Reconfigurable Multifunctional Metasurface for Wideband Polarization Conversion

Abstract

Multifunctional polarization converters have been in high demand due to the lack of features for polarization conversion in the existing designs. The need for integration of active elements to develop reconfigurable metasurfaces helps develop multifunctional metasurfaces. However, the challenge still lies in developing a cost-efficient and feasible design that can operate over a very wide band of frequencies while providing multifunctional polarization conversion over the entire operating bandwidth. The design consists of three layers with a PIN diode integrated into the upper patch layer. Polarization conversion functionalities are obtained depending upon the state of the PIN diode. The proposed metasurface operates over 8.4 GHz- 14.13 GHz with a relative bandwidth of 50.87%. When the integrated PIN diode is turned OFF, cross-polarization conversion is obtained over this entire frequency range, exhibiting a conversion ratio (PCR) of >90%. When the PIN diode is switched ON, multiple polarization conversions are obtained within the frequency band of operation. Cross Polarization conversion is observed from 10.9 GHz to 14.2 GHz with a relative bandwidth of 26.3% and PCR>90%, and linear to circular polarization is observed in two bands from 8.1277 GHz -8.231 GHz and 9.23 GHz-10.4 GHz. © 2024 IEEE.