Random Combinatorial Gradient Metasurface for Broadband, Wide-Angle and Polarization-Independent Diffusion Scattering

Area of Science:

• Electromagnetics and Metamaterials
• Applied Physics
• Radar Engineering

Background:

• Metasurfaces offer advanced control over electromagnetic waves.
• Reducing radar cross section (RCS) is crucial for stealth applications.
• Existing metasurfaces often struggle with broadband, wide-angle, and polarization-independent performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an efficient strategy for designing broadband, wide-angle, and polarization-independent diffusion metasurfaces for RCS reduction.
• To introduce a novel unit cell and metasurface structure for enhanced scattering suppression.
• To validate the design through numerical simulations and experimental measurements.

Main Methods:

• Design of a dual-resonance unit cell (cross wire and cross loop - CWCL) for enhanced phase bandwidth.
• Development of oblique-gradient and horizontal-gradient phase supercells.
• Construction of a random combinatorial gradient metasurface (RCGM) using eight randomly distributed supercells.

Main Results:

• The CWCL unit cell achieves a 2π phase bandwidth, enabling effective phase control.
• The RCGM demonstrates significantly enhanced specular RCS reduction compared to other designs.
• Simulated and measured results confirm broadband, wide-angle, and polarization-independent RCS suppression.

Conclusions:

• The proposed RCGM offers an easy and efficient strategy for designing high-performance diffusion metasurfaces.
• The RCGM effectively suppresses backward scattering and reduces radar cross section.
• The design exhibits robust performance across various angles, frequencies, and polarizations.