Reconfigurable metasurface array for diverse retrodirective reflections and radar cross section reduction.

Area of Science:

• Metamaterials and Nanophotonics
• Electromagnetics and Wave Propagation
• Wireless Communication Technologies

Background:

• Existing retroreflectors face limitations in adaptive retroreflection and polarization modulation.
• Metasurfaces offer potential for advanced electromagnetic wave control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel metasurface array with a reconfigurable transmission line (TL) network.
• To achieve flexible manipulation of electromagnetic waves, including adaptive retroreflection and radar cross section (RCS) reduction.

Main Methods:

• Developed a novel transmission mode for ferrite circulators for precise TL phase control.
• Utilized circulator states to generate multiple phase differences (±90°, ±180°).
• Employed spatial field superposition and phase cancellation for retroreflection and RCS reduction.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated upper half-space cross-polarized retroreflection and circularly polarized retroreflection.
• Achieved flexible adaptive retroreflection with multiple polarization characteristics.
• Successfully reduced radar cross section (RCS) through phase cancellation.

Conclusions:

• The proposed reconfigurable retrodirective metasurface effectively manipulates electromagnetic waves in the upper half-space.
• Experimental validation confirmed the design's feasibility and effectiveness.
• The technology holds promise for enhanced wireless communication applications.