Search Results (35)

A novel reflective metasurface (RMS) is proposed in this paper. The MS measures 128 × 128 × 2.794 mm³ and consists of a six-layer vertically stacked structure, with a liquid crystal (LC) cavity in the middle layer. A dual fan-shaped direct current (DC) bias circuit is designed to minimize the interaction between the radio frequency (RF) signal and the DC source, allowing control of the LC dielectric constant via bias voltage. This enables multi-band operation to improve communication capacity and quality for x-band devices. The polarization conversion (PC) structure employs an orthogonal anisotropic design, utilizing logarithmic functions to create two pairs of bowtie microstrip patches for linear-to-circular polarization conversion (LCPC). Simulation results show that for x-polarized incident waves, with an LC dielectric constant of ε_r = 2.8, left- and right-handed circularly polarized (LHCP and RHCP) waves are achieved in the frequency ranges of 8.15–8.46 GHz and 9.84–12.52 GHz, respectively. For ε_r = 3.9, LHCP and RHCP are achieved in 9–9.11 GHz and 9.86–11.81 GHz, respectively, and for ε_r = 4.6, they are in 8.96–9.11 GHz and 9.95–11.51 GHz. In the case of y-polarized incident waves, the MS reflects the reverse CP waves within the same frequency ranges. Measured results show that at ε_r = 2.8, the axial ratio (AR) is below 3 dB in the frequency ranges 8.16–8.46 GHz and 9.86–12.48 GHz, with 3 dB AR relative bandwidth (ARBW) of 3.61% and 23.46%, respectively. For ε_r = 4.6, the AR < 3 dB in the frequency range of 9.78–11.34 GHz, with a 3 dB ARBW of 14.77%. Finally, the measured and simulated results are compared to validate the proposed design, which can be applied to various applications within the corresponding operating frequency band. Full article

This paper presents an enhanced circularly polarized (CP) all-textile antenna using a metasurface (MS) and slot-patterned ground (SPG) for 5.8 GHz industry, scientific, and medical (ISM)-band applications in off-body communications. The 3 × 3 MS, capable of converting the incident wave into an orthogonal direction with equal magnitude and a 90° phase difference, converts the linearly polarized (LP) wave, radiated from the fundamental radiator with a corner-truncated slot square-patch configuration, into being CP. The SPG, consisting of periodic slots with two different sizes of corner-truncated slots, redistributes the surface current on the ground plane, enhancing the axial ratio bandwidth (ARBW) of the proposed antenna. The novel combination of MS and SPG not only enables the generation and enhancement of CP characteristics but also significantly improves the impedance bandwidth (IBW), gain, and radiation efficiency by introducing additional surface wave resonances. The proposed antenna is composed of a conductive textile and a felt substrate, offering comfort and flexibility for applications where the antenna is placed in close proximity to the human body. The proposed antenna is simulated under bending in various directions, showing exceptionally similar characteristics to a flat condition. The proposed antenna is fabricated and is then verified by measurements in both free space and a human body environment. The measured IBW is 36.3%, while the ARBW is 18%. The measured gain and radiation efficiency are 6.39 dBic and 64.7%, respectively. The specific absorption rate (SAR) is simulated, and the results satisfy both US and EU safety standards. Full article

Metasurfaces (MSs) have emerged as a promising technology for optical system design. When combined with traditional refractive optics, MS-refractive hybrid lenses can enhance imaging performance, reduce optical aberrations, and introduce new functionalities such as polarization control. However, modeling these hybrid lenses requires advanced simulation techniques that usually go beyond conventional raytracing tools. This work presents a physical optics framework for modeling MS-refractive hybrid lenses. We introduce a ray-wave hybrid method that integrates multiple propagation techniques to account for vector wave propagation through various optical elements. At the center of the proposed framework is the Gaussian decomposition method for modeling beam propagation through refractive optics. Ray-path diffraction is automatically considered in this method, and complex input wavefront can be modeled as well. Several techniques are integrated to ensure accuracy in decomposing an incoming vector wave into Gaussian beamlets, such as adaptive consideration of local wavefront principal curvatures and best-fit beam width estimation from the local covariance matrix. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our method, we apply it to several hybrid lens designs, including polarization-sensitive MSs and aberration-correcting MSs integrated into complex optical systems. Full article

This paper presents a simple design of a two-element antenna with circularly polarized (CP) reconfigurability for multiple-input multiple-output wireless local-area network (WLAN) applications. A MIMO element consists of a reconfigurable feeding network, a CP source, and a 2 × 2 unit-cell metasurface (MS). By controlling the ON/OFF state of PIN diodes, the proposed MIMO system can operate in either right-hand CP (RHCP) or left-hand CP (LHCP) for all ports, or either RHCP or LHCP for each port. For all operating modes, the proposed antenna exhibits good performance with a matching performance of less than –10 dB, an axial ratio of lower than 3 dB, as well as an inter-port isolation of better than 24 dB at 2.45 GHz. Additionally, the MIMO diversity performance is also satisfied by the proposed antenna. Compared to related works, the proposed antenna has advantages of high gain and compact size, as well as a simple switching mechanism with a small number of PIN diodes. Full article

This research presents an innovative polarization-insensitive metasurface (MS) harvester designed for energy harvesting applications at 5 GHz, capable of operating efficiently over wide reception angles. The proposed MS features a novel wheel-shaped resonator array whose symmetrical structure ensures insensitivity to the polarization of incident electromagnetic (EM) waves, enabling efficient energy absorption and minimizing reflections. Unlike conventional designs, the metasurface achieves near-unity harvesting efficiency, exceeds 94% under normal incidence, and maintains superior performance across various incident angles for TE and TM polarizations. To validate the design, a 5 × 5-unit cell array of the MS structure was fabricated and experimentally tested, demonstrating excellent agreement between simulation and measurement results. This work significantly advances metasurface-based energy harvesting by combining polarization insensitivity, wide-angle efficiency, and high absorption, making it a compelling solution for powering wireless sensor networks in next-generation applications. Full article

The Sweatt model has been extensively used to design optical systems containing diffractive optical elements (DOEs) because it captures the dispersive characteristics of DOEs. We introduce a new dispersive Sweatt model (DSM) that can describe meta-atom (MA) dispersion, which has material and geometric contributions in addition to diffraction. It uses a wavelength-dependent scalar coefficient to modify the diffractive dispersion and describe the dispersion of a given MA basis. This provides a robust framework to design systems containing metasurface (MS) elements while including their unique dispersive properties in the design optimization. Importantly, the DSM is based on ray optics and enables the design of MS-containing systems using conventional optical design software such as Zemax and Code V. We use the DSM to demonstrate the design of a hybrid refractive/MS achromatic doublet for the midwave infrared (MWIR) band. The design example includes multiple wavelengths and field angles during optimization and demonstrates excellent agreement between the DSM and real hybrid lens performance modeled using wave optics. We discuss the limits of the DSM and present a simple model to predict performance limits due to phase mismatch at Fresnel zone boundaries. Full article

A THz-to-IR converter can be an effective solution for the detection of low-IR-signature targets by combining the advantages of mature IR detection mechanisms with high atmospheric transmittance in the THz region. A metallic metasurface (MS)-based absorber with linear polarization dependence based on a split-ring resonator (SRR) unit cell has been previously studied as a preliminary example of a THz-to-IR converter structure in the literature. In this simulation-based study, a new cross-shaped unit cell-based metallic MS absorber structure sensitive to dual polarization is designed to eliminate linear polarization dependency, thereby allowing for incoherent detection of THz radiation. A model is developed to calculate the temperature difference and the response time for this new cross-shaped absorber structure, and its performance is compared to the SRR structure for both coherent and incoherent illumination. This model allows for understanding the efficiency of these structures by considering all loss mechanisms which previously had not been considered. It is found that both structures show similar performance under linearly polarized coherent illumination. However, under incoherent illumination, the IR emittance efficiency as gauged by the temperature difference for the cross-shaped structure is found to be twice as high as compared to the SRR structure. The results also imply that calculated temperature differences for both structures under coherent and incoherent illumination are well above the limit of the minimum resolvable temperature difference of the state-of-the-art IR cameras. Therefore, dual-polarized or multi-polarization-sensitive MS absorber structures can be crucial for developing cost-effective THz-to-IR converters and be implemented in THz imaging solutions. Full article

In this paper, a single-feed microstrip antenna (MA) equipped with a transmission-mode focusing metasurface (MS) is proposed to achieve dual-polarization capabilities and superior high-gain radiation performance. The original-feed MA comprises two distinct layers of coaxial-fed tangential patches, enabling it to emit a circular polarization (CP) wave with a gain of 3.5 dBic at 5.6 GHz and linear polarization (LP) radiation with a gain of 4 dBi at 13.7 GHz. To improve the performance of the single-feed MA, a dual-polarization transmission focusing MS is proposed and numerically substantiated. By positioning the originally designed MA at the focal point of the MS, we create a transmission-mode MS antenna system capable of achieving CP and LP radiations with the significantly higher gains of 12.9 dBic and 14.8 dBi at 5.6 GHz and 13.7 GHz, respectively. Measurements conducted on the fabricated dual-polarization focusing MS antenna closely align with the simulation results, validating the effectiveness of our approach. This work underscores the significant potential of dual-polarization high-speed data systems and offers a practical solution for enhancing antenna gains in contemporary wireless communication systems. Full article

In this paper, a patch array antenna with wideband circular polarization and high gain is proposed by utilizing a hybrid metasurface (MS). A corner-cut slotted patch antenna was chosen as the source due to the possible generation of CP mode. The hybrid MS (HMS), consisting of a receiver MS (RMS) arranged in a 2 × 2 array of squared patches and a linear-to-circular polarization conversion (LCPC) MS surrounding it was then utilized as the superstrate driven by the source. The LCPC MS cell is a squared-corner-cut patch with a 45° oblique slot etched, which has the capability for wideband LCPC. The LCPC unit cell possesses wideband PC capabilities, as demonstrated by the surface current analysis and S-parameter simulations conducted using a Floquet–port setup. The LP EM wave radiated by the source antenna was initially received by the RMS, then converted to a CP wave as it passed through the LCPC MS, and ultimately propagated into space. To further enhance the LCPC properties, an improved HMS (IHMS) was then proposed with four cells cut at the corners, based on the original HMS design. To verify this design, both CMA and E-field were utilized to analyze the three MSs, indicating that the IHMS possessed a wideband LCPC capability compared to the other two MSs. The proposed antenna was then arranged in a 2 × 2 array with sequential rotation to further enhance its properties. As demonstrated by the measurements, the array antenna achieved an S11 bandwidth of 60.5%, a 3 dB AR bandwidth of 2.85 GHz, and a peak gain of 15.1 dBic, all while maintaining a low profile of only 0.09λ₀. Full article

Terahertz (THz) sensors have attracted great attention in the biological field due to their nondestructive and contact-free biochemical samples. Recently, the concept of a quasi-bound state in the continuum (QBIC) has gained significant attention in designing biosensors with ultrahigh sensitivity. QBIC-based metasurfaces (MSs) achieve excellent performance in various applications, including sensing, optical switching, and laser, providing a reliable platform for biomaterial sensors with terahertz radiation. In this study, a structure-engineered THz MS consisting of a “double C” array has been designed, in which an asymmetry parameter α is introduced into the structure by changing the length of one subunit; the Q-factor of the QBIC device can be optimized by engineering the asymmetry parameter α. Theoretical calculation with coupling equations can well reproduce the THz transmission spectra of the designed THz QBIC MS obtained from the numerical simulation. Experimentally, we adopt an MS with α = 0.44 for testing arginine molecules. The experimental results show that different concentrations of arginine molecules lead to significant transmission changes near QBIC resonant frequencies, and the amplitude change is shown to be 16 times higher than that of the classical dipole resonance. The direct limit of detection for arginine molecules on the QBIC MS reaches 0.36 ng/mL. This work provides a new way to realize rapid, accurate, and nondestructive sensing of trace molecules and has potential application in biomaterial detection. Full article

A wideband, low-profile, dual-polarized antenna using a metasurface (MS) is proposed in this paper. This design consists of a pair of crossed dipoles, an MS, a metal cavity and two baluns. The proposed MS acts as an artificial magnetic conductor (AMC), which is designed for the ±90° reflection-phase bandwidth of 1.4–2.9 GHz. Compared with the 0.25λ₀ profile of the traditional crossed dipoles, the profile is reduced to 0.15λ₀ by using the in-phase reflection characteristics of the MS, which realizes the utilization of space. The measured results show that the antenna has a 10 dB return loss of 68.2% with isolation of more than 30 dB (1.45–2.95 GHz). The realized gain is 9 dBi with ±1 dBi variation, especially exceeding 10 dBi from 2.1 to 2.8 GHz. Full article

A dual-band metasurface (MS) with a wide reception angle operating at Wi-Fi bands (2.4 GHz and 5.4 GHz) is presented for electromagnetic (EM) energy harvesting applications. The MS unit cell comprises a subwavelength circular split ring resonator printed on the low-loss substrate. An air layer is sandwiched between two low-loss substrates to enhance the harvesting efficiency at operating frequencies. One of the main advantages of the proposed MS is that it uses only one harvesting port (via) to channel the captured power to the optimized load (50 Ω), which simplifies the design of a combined power network. According to the results of full-wave EM simulations, the proposed MS has a near-unity efficiency of 97% and 94% at 2.4 GHz and 5.4 GHz, respectively, for capturing the power of incident EM waves with normal incidence. Furthermore, the proposed MS harvester achieves good performance at up to $60°$ oblique incidence. To validate simulations, the MS harvester with 5 × 5-unit cells is fabricated and tested, and its EM properties are measured, showing good agreement with the simulation results. Because of its high efficiency, the proposed MS harvester is suitable for use in various microwave applications, such as energy harvesting and wireless power transfer. Full article

In this paper, a photo-excited metasurface (MS) based on hybrid patterned photoconductive silicon (Si) structures was proposed in the terahertz (THz) region, which can realize the tunable reflective circular polarization (CP) conversion and beam deflection effect at two frequencies independently. The unit cell of the proposed MS consists of a metal circular-ring (CR), Si ellipse-shaped-patch (ESP) and circular-double-split-ring (CDSR) structure, a middle dielectric substrate, and a bottom metal ground plane. By altering the external infrared-beam pumping power, it is possible to modify the electric conductivity of both the Si ESP and CDSR components. By varying the conductivity of the Si array in this manner, the proposed MS can achieve a reflective CP conversion efficiency that ranges from 0% to 96.6% at a lower frequency of 0.65 THz, and from 0% to 89.3% at a higher frequency of 1.37 THz. Furthermore, the corresponding modulation depth of this MS is as high as 96.6% and 89.3% at two distinct and independent frequencies, respectively. Moreover, at the lower and higher frequencies, the 2π phase shift can also be achieved by respectively rotating the oriented angle (α_i) of the Si ESP and CDSR structures. Finally, an MS supercell is constructed for the reflective CP beam deflection, and the efficiency is dynamically tuned from 0% to 99% at the two independent frequencies. Due to its excellent photo-excited response, the proposed MS may find potential applications in active functional THz wavefront devices, such as modulators, switches, and deflectors. Full article

In recent years, many intriguing electromagnetic (EM) phenomena have come into being utilizing metasurfaces (MSs). However, most of them operate in either transmission or reflection mode, leaving the other half of the EM space completely unmodulated. Here, a kind of transmission-reflection-integrated multifunctional passive MS is proposed for entire-space electromagnetic wave manipulation, which can transmit the x-polarized EM wave and reflect the y-polarized EM wave from the upper and lower space, respectively. By introducing an H-shaped chiral grating-like micro-structure and open square patches into the unit, the MS acts not only as an efficient converter of linear-to-left-hand circular (LP-to-LHCP), linear-to-orthogonal (LP-to-XP), and linear-to-right-hand circular (LP-to-RHCP) polarization within the frequency bands of 3.05–3.25, 3.45–3.8, and 6.45–6.85 GHz, respectively, under the x-polarized EM wave, but also as an artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) within the frequency band of 12.6–13.5 GHz under the y-polarized EM wave. Additionally, the LP-to-XP polarization conversion ratio (PCR) is up to −0.52 dB at 3.8 GHz. To discuss the multiple functions of the elements to manipulate EM waves, the MS operating in transmission and reflection modes is designed and simulated. Furthermore, the proposed multifunctional passive MS is fabricated and experimentally measured. Both measured and simulated results confirm the prominent properties of the proposed MS, which validates the design’s viability. This design offers an efficient way to achieve multifunctional meta-devices, which may have latent applications in modern integrated systems. Full article

This work presents a high-efficiency reconfigurable wireless-power-transfer (WPT) system using fully rollable Tx/Rx coils and a metasurface (MS) screen working at 6.78 MHz, for the first time. The MS screens are placed between the Tx and Rx to magnify the power-transfer efficiency (PTE) of the WPT system. The proposed MS-based WPT can be rolled down or rolled up as required, which allows end-users to use the space more flexibly. In the measurement results, the PTE of the WPT is improved from 13.32% to 32.49% at a power-transfer distance (PTD) of 40 cm with one MS screen, 5.42% to 42.25% at a PTD of 50 cm with two MS screens, 1.78% to 49% at a PTD of 60 cm with three MS screens, 0.85% to 46.24% at a PTD of 70 cm with four MS screens. The measured PTE results indicate that the demonstrated MS screens are greatly effective for magnifying the PTE and the PTD of the WPT. In addition, the measured PTE results in the misaligned condition verify that the MS screens also help increase the PTE of the WPT even in the misalignment condition. Full article