Heterogeneous networks for phase-sensitive engineering of optical disordered materials

TL;DR

This paper introduces a heterogeneous network modeling approach for designing multiphase materials with phase-sensitive microstructural features, enabling control over wave scattering properties while maintaining overall response.

Contribution

The paper develops a novel multipartite network framework to model and engineer multiphase disordered materials with phase-sensitive microstructural control.

Findings

Network directionality influences phase-sensitive microstructure alterations

Model enables design of materials with specific wave scattering features

Approach preserves overall scattering response while modifying microstructure

Abstract

Heterogeneous networks provide a universal framework for extracting subsystem-level features of a complex system, which are critical in graph colouring, pattern classification, and motif identification. When abstracting physical systems into networks, distinct groups of nodes and links in heterogeneous networks can be decomposed into different modes of multipartite networks, allowing for a deeper understanding of both intra- and inter-group relationships. Here, we develop heterogeneous network modelling of wave scattering to engineer multiphase random heterogeneous materials. We devise multipartite network decomposition determined by material phases, which is examined using uni- and bi-partite network examples for two-phase multiparticle systems. We show that the directionality of the bipartite network governs the phase-sensitive alteration of microstructures. The proposed modelling enables a network-based design to achieve phase-sensitive microstructural features, while almost preserving the overall scattering response. With examples of designing quasi-isoscattering stealthy hyperuniform materials, our results provide a general recipe for engineering multiphase materials for wave functionalities.