3D-printed mm-wave dielectric spherical conformal transmitarray for multi-order and multi-beam OAM generation.

Area of Science:

• Electromagnetics and Wave Propagation
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Additive Manufacturing

Background:

• Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) beams offer unique properties for wireless communications.
• Conformal antennas are crucial for integration into various platforms.
• Millimeter-wave frequencies present opportunities for high-bandwidth applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel 3D-printed dielectric spherical conformal transmitarray for generating multi-order OAM beams.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of using octagonal cylindrical dielectric elements for OAM beam generation.
• To investigate the application of 3D printing in conformal antenna designs for millimeter-wave systems.

Main Methods:

• Design of a spherical conformal transmitarray using octagonal cylindrical dielectric elements.
• Adjustment of dielectric unit wall thickness to achieve a 360° transmission phase shift.
• Fabrication of transmitarrays (7λ×7λ and 9λ×9λ) for generating first and second-order OAM beams.
• Phase compensation principles applied for OAM beam generation.

Main Results:

• Achieved high transmission efficiency in the 25-27 GHz millimeter-wave band.
• Successfully generated first-order and second-order OAM beams with designed transmitarrays.
• Demonstrated generation of first-order dual-beam OAM waves using a 9λ×9λ transmitarray.
• Experimental results showed good agreement with simulations.

Conclusions:

• The proposed 3D-printed transmitarray effectively generates multi-order OAM beams.
• This approach reduces production costs and enhances the applicability of 3D printing in conformal antenna design.
• The technology holds promise for future communication and radar systems.