Artificial trees for absorbing and scattering radiation

Abstract

Countermeasures apparatus is disclosed for attenuating radiation by absoron, reflection, and/or scattering, whether the radiation is reflected by or emanates from a target to be protected. The countermeasures apparatus comprises an artificial tree having a plurality of leaves disposed between the target to be protected and radiation sensors whereby the radiation directed from the target to the sensors is attentuated, the radiation being of a plurality of different wavelengths. Attenuating means are disposed on the leaves and take the form of an array of electrically conductive particles forming dipoles whose lengths are chosen to be 0.48 or approximately one-half of the wavelengths of the wavelength of the radiation to be defeated. The dipoles of the array are spaced from each other a spacing within an optimum range of one-half to one of the wavelength of the radiation of interest to effect coherent absorption and scattering of this radiation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.