Optically Controlled Gain Modulation for Microwave Metasurface Antennas

Over the past decade, metasurfaces (MTSs) have emerged as a highly promising platform for the development of next-generation, miniaturized, planar devices across a wide spectrum of microwave frequencies. Among their various applications, the concept of MTS-based antennas, particularly those that are based on surface wave excitation, represents a groundbreaking advancement with significant implications for communication technologies. However, existing literature primarily focuses on MTS configurations printed on traditional substrates, largely overlooking the potential benefits of employing photosensitive substrates. This paper endeavors to pioneer this novel path. We present a specialized design of a modulated MTS printed on a silicon substrate, which acts as a photosensitive Ka-band surface wave antenna. Remarkably, the gain of this antenna can be time-modulated, achieving a variance of up to 15 dB, under low-power (below 1 W/cm²) optical illumination at a wavelength of 971 nm. This innovative approach positions the antenna as a direct transducer, capable of converting an optically modulated signal into a microwave-modulated radiated signal, thus offering a new dimension in antenna technology and functionality.