Inspired by the information theory, a new concept of re-programmable encrypted graphene-based coding metasurfaces was investigated at terahertz frequencies. A channel-coding function was proposed to convolutionally record an arbitrary information message onto unrecognizable but recoverable parity beams generated by a phase-encrypted coding metasurface. A single graphene-based reflective cell with dual-mode biasing voltages was designed to act as “0” and “1” meta-atoms, providing broadband opposite reflection phases. By exploiting graphene tunability, the proposed scheme enabled an unprecedented degree of freedom in the real-time mapping of information messages onto multiple parity beams which could not be damaged, altered, and reverse-engineered. Various encryption types such as mirroring, anomalous reflection, multi-beam generation, and scattering diffusion can be dynamically attained via our multifunctional metasurface. Besides, contrary to conventional time-consuming and optimization-based methods, this paper convincingly offers a fast, straightforward, and efficient design of diffusion metasurfaces of arbitrarily large size. Rigorous full-wave simulations corroborated the results where the phase-encrypted metasurfaces exhibited a polarization-insensitive reflectivity less than −10 dB over a broadband frequency range from 1 THz to 1.7 THz. This work reveals new opportunities for the extension of re-programmable THz-coding metasurfaces and may be of interest for reflection-type security systems, computational imaging, and camouflage technology.

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In this study, by using an equivalent circuit method, a polarization-insensitive terahertz (THz) absorber based on multilayer graphene-based metasurfaces (MGBMs) is systematically designed, providing an extremely broad absorption bandwidth (BW). The proposed absorber is a compact, three-layer structure, comprising square-, cross-, and circular-shaped graphene metasurfaces embedded between three separator dielectrics. The equivalent-conductivity method serves as a parameter retrieval technique to characterize the graphene metasurfaces as the components of the proposed circuit model. Good agreement is observed between the full-wave simulations and the equivalent-circuit predictions. The optimum MGBM absorber exhibits >90% absorbance in an extremely broad frequency band of 0.55-3.12 THz (BW=140%). The results indicate a significant BW enhancement compared with both the previous metal- and graphene-based THz absorbers, highlighting the capability of the designed MGBM absorber. To clarify the physical mechanism of absorption, the surface current and the electric-field distributions, as well as the power loss density of each graphene metasurface, are monitored and discussed. The MGBM functionality is evaluated under a wide range of incident wave angles to prove that the proposed absorber is omnidirectional and polarization-insensitive. These superior performances guarantee the applicability of the MGBM structure as an ultra-broadband absorber for various THz applications.

Here, for the first time, the real‐time and broadband manipulation of terahertz (THz) waves are acquired by introducing a multifunctional graphene‐based coding metasurface (GBCM). The designed structure consists of subwavelength patterned graphene units whose operational statuses can be dynamically switched between two digital states of “0” and “1”. By engineering the spatial distribution of chemical potentials across the GBCM, various scattering patterns having single, two, four, and numerous reflection beams are elaborately achieved just within one planar structure. To compute the far‐field pattern of GBCM, an inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT) is established, providing a fast and efficient design method. The proposed GBCM provides a low reflection bellow −10 dB over a broad frequency band ranging from 1 THz to 1.9 THz. In addition, the metasurface retains its low reflection behavior in a wide range of incident wave angles for both TE and TM polarizations. According to conformal invariance of graphene sheets, the stealth property of GBCM is well preserved while wrapping around a curved object. The proposed technique of real‐time scattering manipulation leads to multifunctional THz devices, opening new routes contributing to numerous applications such as imaging and stealth technology.

Recent years have witnessed an extraordinary spurt in attention toward the wave-manipulating strategies revealed by phase–amplitude metasurfaces. Recently, it has been shown that, when two different phase-encoded metasurfaces responsible for doing separate missions are added together based on the superposition theorem, the mixed digital phase distribution will realize both missions at the same time. In this paper, via a semi-analytical procedure, we demonstrate that such a theorem is not necessarily valid when using phase-only metasurfaces or ignoring the element pattern functions. We introduce the concept of asymmetric spatial power divider (ASPD) with arbitrary power ratio levels in which modulating both amplitude and phase of the meta-atoms is inevitable to fully control the power intensity pattern of a reflective metasurface. Numerical simulations illustrate that the proposed ASPD designed by proper phase and amplitude distribution over the surface can directly generate a desired number of beams with predetermined orientations and power budgets. The C-shaped Pancharatnam–Berry meta-atoms locally realize the optimal phase and amplitude distribution in each case, and the good conformity between simulations and theoretical predictions verifies the presented formalism. A prototype of our ASPD designs is also fabricated and measured, and the experimental results corroborate well our numerical and semi-analytical predictions. Our findings not only offer possibilities to realize arbitrary spatial power dividers over subwavelength scale but also reveal an economical and simple alternative for a beamforming array antenna.