Acoustic Metamaterials: Negative Refraction, Imaging, Lensing

In this review of Acoustic Metamaterials: Negative Refraction, Imaging, Lensing and Cloaking the reviewer finds a focused, academic volume that serves researchers and graduate students exploring how structured materials manipulate sound. The single biggest reason to buy is its comprehensive synthesis of both experimental and theoretical work on acoustic and elastic waves, gathered chapter-by-chapter from acknowledged experts. This book is not a casual introduction; it is best used as a reference and a gateway to current literature on topics such as negative refraction, cloaking and experimental imaging.

Key Features

• Comprehensive coverage: The book brings together experimental and theoretical perspectives to give a broad view of acoustic metamaterials and their practical behaviors.
• Expert authorship: Each chapter is written by an acknowledged expert, which helps readers access current research and varied approaches within the field.
• Focus on novel effects: The text emphasizes unusual wave phenomena such as collimation, focusing, and extraordinary transmission, useful for design-minded readers.
• Applications-oriented sections: Experimental results on nondestructive imaging and cloaking by surface water waves connect theory to measurable outcomes.
• Elastic and acoustic waves: Coverage includes both elastic and acoustic wave propagation in structured composites, making it relevant across related disciplines.

Who It's For

This book targets graduate students, researchers and practicing engineers working in acoustics, materials science and wave physics who need a rigorous, up-to-date reference on acoustic metamaterials. It is particularly useful for those developing experiments or interpreting complex wave behavior in structured composites.

Readers seeking a beginner's textbook or a step-by-step numerical methods manual should look elsewhere; the volume assumes familiarity with wave theory and focuses on specialist topics rather than elementary instruction.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Well curated chapters by field experts provide authoritative perspectives across experimental and theoretical work.
• Balanced treatment of phenomena such as lensing and cloaking makes it a valuable reference for applied research.
• Includes experimental results that ground theoretical ideas in observable practice, aiding reproducibility and design decisions.

Cons

• The book is advanced in scope and not intended as an introductory text for newcomers without prior wave physics background.

Specifications

Title	Acoustic Metamaterials: Negative Refraction, Imaging, Lensing and Cloaking
Series	Springer Series in Materials Science, 166
Authors / Editors	Richard V. Craster, Sebastien Guenneau
Subject focus	Acoustic and elastic wave propagation in structured composites
Topics covered	Negative refraction, imaging, lensing, cloaking, experimental results
Approach	Both experimental and theoretical perspectives

Our Verdict

This volume is a strong purchase for researchers and advanced students who need a concentrated review of acoustic metamaterials linking experiment with theory; its authoritativeness and topical breadth make it good value as a reference for ongoing projects in imaging, cloaking and wave control.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the book include experimental data?
The book includes chapters with experimental results, including nondestructive imaging and surface wave cloaking demonstrations.

Is this suitable for undergraduate study?
Not generally; the text assumes prior knowledge of wave physics and is aimed at graduate-level readers and researchers.

Are electromagnetic metamaterials the main focus?
No, the book focuses on acoustic and elastic metamaterials rather than electromagnetic topics, with specific emphasis on negative refraction and cloaking.