Planar multi-angle retro-reflectors based on the wave-vector-reversion of spoof surface plasmon polaritons

Spoof surface plasmon polariton (SSPP) is kind of sub-wavelength electromagnetic (EM) mode, which is favorable for miniaturization and thinning of EM devices. In this paper, we propose a method of designing thin planar retro-reflector that can operate under multiple incidence angles at the same frequency. The retro-reflector is composed of a transmissive phase gradient metasurface (TPGM) placed above a metallic patch array (MPA), where the former couples and decouples SSPPs while the latter supports eigen-mode propagation of SSPPs. Under oblique incident angles, the TGPM can impart 0 and π Pancharatnam-Berry (P-B) phases alternatively, producing P-B phase gradients along its surface. Incident waves can be coupled as SSPPs propagating on the MPA which will be reflected at the borders of the MPA, thus the wave-vector of SSPPs is reversed. In this way, retro-reflection can be realized under the two incidence angles θ=±45.0°. Moreover, due to mode mismatch between the TPGM and MPA under normal incidence, the retro-reflector acts like a planar metallic plate under θ=0°. To verify this method, a prototype was designed, fabricated and measured. Both the simulation and measurement results verify significant backscattering enhancement under θ=±45.0° and 0° at 10.0 GHz. This work provides an alternative method of designing planar retro-reflectors and may find applications in wireless communication, target tracking, etc.