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Microscale Radiative Effects in Complex Microstructures of Iridescent Butterfly Wing Scales

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

Haruna Tada,
Seth E. Mann,
Ioannis N. Miaoulis and
Peter Y. Wong
Haruna Tada
Affiliation:
Thermal Analysis of Materials Processing Laboratory, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
Seth E. Mann
Affiliation:
Thermal Analysis of Materials Processing Laboratory, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
Ioannis N. Miaoulis
Affiliation:
Thermal Analysis of Materials Processing Laboratory, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
Peter Y. Wong
Affiliation:
Thermal Analysis of Materials Processing Laboratory, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
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Abstract

The cellular microstructure of insect scales can be detailed intricately with threedimensional structures and multiple thin-film layers. In butterflies, iridescent scales can reflect bright colors through thin-film interference and other optical phenomena; the balance of radiation is absorbed for thermoregulatory purposes. Results of numerical and experimental investigations into the function, properties, and structure of these scales are presented. Of particular interest are the numerical modeling of the microscale radiative effects in the scales, determining the optical properties of the biological material, and the cellular development of thin-film structures.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 489: Symposium K – Materials Science of the Cell , 1997, 173
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1998

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References

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