volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

We propose a transmission metasurface (TMS) with ultra-high polarization conversion properties and carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) vortex waves based on Ku-band's unique periodic unit cell structure in Ku-band. The TMS periodic unit cell structure consists of four cascaded metal layers with parallel-stripe double-arrow and three dielectric layers. We theoretically explain the ultra-high polarization conversion properties of the periodic unit cell by introducing the Jones matrix. Meanwhile, the transmission loss of the periodic unit cell is less than 2.92 dB, and a phase shift of 2π is obtained in 17-19 GHz. We design OAM modes of ±1, ±2, and ±3 for 2π full-phase controlled TMSs by combining the multilayer cascade structure with the Pancharatnam-Berry (P-B) phase principle. The processed TMS produced a vortex wave with an OAM mode of +2 and achieved a polarization conversion rate (PCR) of 83.3% under left-hand circular polarization (LHCP) to right-hand circular polarization (RHCP) in agreement with the simulated and measured data. The results show that vortex waves also have the advantages of high efficiency, broadband, and high mode purity. The generated vortex waves are available for fast beam alignment, which is significant for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and satellite communications in the Ku band.

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Dr. Zhong Yu

Dr. Li Shi

Dr. Zhenghui Xin