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  • Open Access

Acoustic leaky-wave antennas from zero-index metamaterials

Keqiang Lyu1, Mohamed Farhat2, and Ying Wu1,2,*

  • 1Division of Physical Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
  • 2Division of Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia

  • *Contact author: ying.wu@kaust.edu.sa
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Phys. Rev. Applied 24, 034043 – Published 17 September, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/pzvt-gq9v

Abstract

We present an acoustic leaky-wave antenna based on zero-refractive-index metamaterials, offering significantly enhanced radiation efficiency and directivity compared to conventional designs. The zero-refractive-index metamaterial incorporates periodically distributed space-coiling structures, leveraging Dirac-like dispersion and accidental degeneracy to achieve vanishing effective density and compressibility simultaneously. The proposed acoustic Dirac leaky-wave antenna (ADLWA) achieves more than double the radiation efficiency of conventional antennas utilizing arrays with shunt ducts and membranes. It also exhibits superior directional control, enabling precise beam scanning through frequency tuning. Additionally, the ADLWA functions as a passive sonar system capable of detecting the direction of arrival of moving sound sources. This work expands the possibilities for acoustic wave control, with potential applications in acoustic sensing and communication technology.

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Phys. Rev. Applied 24, 034043– Published 17 September, 2025
  • Received 17 April 2025
  • Revised 20 August 2025
  • Accepted 25 August 2025
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI. Open access publication funded by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

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