Electromagnetic properties of carbon foams

Electromagnetic (EM) properties of reticulated carbon foams depend on the carbon skeleton conductivity as well as on its geometrical parameters, i.e., cell and window (through which cells are connected with each other) size. Resonance phenomena were observed for optical density of reticulated carbon foams in the terahertz (THz) frequency range, where the wavelength is of the same order of magnitude as foam's cell size. The modeling using finite elements method proves the possibility of the periodic EM energy concentration for certain foam geometry and at given frequency. This effect can be used for designing THz passive component, i.e. concentrator. The possibility to tune the EM parameters of reticulated conductive foams with mechanical deformations and/or frequency shifting has been also discussed.