Design of Low-RCS Broadband High-Gain Antennas Based on Transmission Array Metasurface

Area of Science:

• Electromagnetics
• Antenna Theory
• Metamaterials

Background:

• Traditional antennas often face limitations in achieving both high gain and reduced radar cross-section (RCS).
• Metasurfaces offer unique electromagnetic properties for manipulating wave propagation and scattering.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and validate a low-RCS, broadband, high-gain antenna.
• To demonstrate the effectiveness of a metasurface transmission array for beam convergence and RCS reduction.

Main Methods:

• Design of a metasurface transmission array utilizing phase compensation for broadband beam convergence.
• Incorporation of checkerboard arrangement of elements for significant radar cross-section (RCS) reduction.
• Development of a microstrip magnetic and electric dipole antenna as the feed.

Main Results:

• Achieved over 10 dB radar cross-section (RCS) reduction in the X and Ku bands for fixed polarization.
• The fabricated antenna exhibits a -10 dB operating bandwidth from 6.7 to 13.5 GHz (67% relative bandwidth).
• Demonstrated effective gain enhancement by the metasurface and significant RCS reduction for vertically incident y-polarized waves.

Conclusions:

• The proposed metasurface transmission array antenna achieves simultaneous control over radiation and scattering.
• This design offers a valuable approach for developing advanced transmission array antennas with dual functionality.
• The study holds significant implications for applications requiring high-gain antennas with integrated stealth capabilities.