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Efficient phase shift in metamaterial spoof surface plasmon polaritons waveguides
Behnam Mazdouri1, Rashid Mirzavand
1Intelligent Wireless Technology (IWT) Lab, Electrical Engineering Department, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. mazdouri@ualberta.ca.
Scientific Reports
|November 29, 2025
Summary
We developed a new method for phase shift control in spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) using engineered metallic-dielectric structures. Loading the exterior region of U-shaped cells maximizes phase shift, enabling compact phase shifters for telecommunications and sensing.
Area of Science:
- Electromagnetics and Metamaterials
- Plasmonics and Photonics
- Microwave Engineering
Background:
- Spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) enable sub-wavelength waveguiding at lower frequencies.
- Previous research focused on material properties, neglecting systematic regional loading effects on SPP dispersion.
- Controlling phase shifts in SPPs is crucial for advanced device development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and validate a novel method for phase shift control in SPPs.
- To investigate the impact of systematic dielectric loading in different regions of metallic unit cells.
- To optimize phase shift performance for compact, high-performance applications.
Main Methods:
- Engineered bulky U-shaped metallic unit cells with dielectric loading (relative permittivity 3.2-9.8).
- Developed a PCB-to-bulky U-shaped spoof SPPs waveguide transition for measurements.
- Conducted theoretical analysis, experimental measurements, and near-field scanning (NEOSCAN optical probe).
Main Results:
- Tailoring dielectric loading in the exterior cell region maximizes phase shift.
- Achieved significant phase shifts (e.g., [Formula: see text] at 3.5 GHz with TMM10, [Formula: see text] at 5 GHz with TMM3).
- Demonstrated a trade-off between maximum phase shift and operational bandwidth across 0.5-6 GHz.
Conclusions:
- Systematic regional dielectric loading offers precise phase shift control in SPPs.
- The proposed method enables the development of compact and efficient phase shifters.
- Findings are applicable to telecommunications and sensing technologies requiring advanced wave control.
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