An ultra-broadband polarization conversion metasurface for enhanced stealth and RCS mitigation in MIMO configurations

Abstract

A single-layer broadband metasurface for efficient cross-polarization conversion, aiming at improving the stealth performance of a MIMO antenna, is proposed in this work. A low-profile, minimally complex meta-atom and its mirror image are proposed, featuring a diagonal metallic strip and two narrow horizontal edge strips. This configuration achieves more than 90 % polarization conversion efficiency while maintaining an absolute 180-degree phase gradient between the reflected waves of the two meta-atoms. A chessboard metasurface with 10x10 elements, constructed with the proposed meta-atom and mirror image, is integrated with the slot antenna-based MIMO configuration. A slot antenna is orthogonally arranged to form a four-element MIMO configuration, ensuring high isolation exceeding 25 dB between the individual elements. The realized peak gain of this arrangement is 6.95 dBi radiating orthogonally. Monostatic, bistatic, and 3D scattering patterns of a MIMO configuration with and without metasurface are evaluated. Under oblique incidence, the metasurface demonstrates exceptional angular stability, maintaining a minimum RCS reduction of 10 dB for incidence angles up to 60°. The fabricated and optimized prototype exhibits measurement outcomes that closely correspond to the simulation results for normal and oblique incidence scenarios. © 2025 Elsevier GmbH