Dynamic beam scanning and polarization manipulation based on a dual-circularly polarized programmable metasurface

Programmable metasurfaces have opened what is believed to be new avenues for dynamic wavefront control, yet achieving high-resolution, independent, and real-time phase control for dual-circular polarizations remains a significant challenge. In this paper, a dual-circularly polarized 2-bit programmable metasurface is proposed, characterized by a simple structure, dynamic beam scanning, and multiple polarization modes. The meta-element adopts an opposite-chirality-coexisted structure and integrates merely two varactors. By adjusting the bias voltage applied to the varactors, the meta-element achieves independent and continuous phase tuning over approximately 270° for orthogonal circular polarizations, which provides sufficient coverage for 2-bit phase programmability and enables versatile wavefront manipulation. For verification, a metasurface prototype is fabricated and experimentally characterized. Both simulation and measurement results demonstrate that the metasurface can achieve dynamic beam scanning within a range of ± 40° for multiple polarization modes. With its low-cost architecture, dynamic beam control, and flexible polarization agility, the proposed metasurface represents a promising candidate for applications in next-generation satellite communications, polarization-diverse radar detection, and remote sensing platforms.