Hybrid inertial method for broadband scattering reduction

We combine a transformational acoustic (TA) conformal map with a scattering cancellation (SC) layer to produce a hybrid design that reduces the scattering cross-section of an object in an aqueous environment. Our method is an inertial design that does not rely on negative-valued media. Using multiple scattering theory for cylindrical shells, our calculations demonstrate that the hybrid design outperforms both a discretized transformational acoustic superlattice and a scattering cancellation layer over a broad frequency bandwidth. The hybrid method can be utilized to optimize performance over targeted frequency bands. [doi:10.1063/1.3678633]