Easy‐to‐Implement Ultra‐Thin, Wide‐Band, and Multi‐Functional Polarization Converter for K and Ka Band Applications

Abstract

This article presents an ultrathin, broadband, and multipurpose polarization converter design utilizing an anisotropic metasurface for K and Ka band. The proposed polarization converter, which has a single layer F4B as a substrate material with hexagonal‐shaped metallic solid structure along with hexagonal ring with diagonal splits on its front surface and a background (a completely metallic surface) on its back, works as not only a circular polarization converter but also a linear polarization to circular polarization (LP to CP) converter. Its polarization conversion rate (PCR) is more than 90% in the frequency range from 17.87 to 43.15 GHz, covering all of the K and Ka bands with a relative bandwidth of 83% under normal incidence case. For incidence angles up to 40°, PCR is observed to be greater than 75% in almost all of the K and Ka bands (except for the frequency range between 24.72 and 27.11 GHz). Furthermore, the proposed design has LP to CP in two different frequency bands, 16.23–16.74 GHz and 48.6–48.8 GHz. The proposed polarization converter, as advantages, is low cost, ultra thin, broadband, and facile, which can be useful in linear cross polarization conversion in K and Ka band applications.

Reflective Polarization Conversion with Multi-Functional, Ultrathin Metasurface for Ku- and K-Band Applications

“…The other is a cross-polarized reflected field, known as orthogonal component of incident polarization. The Jones reflection coefficient matrix R [4] in the Cartesian coordinates is mathematically utilized to analyze co-and cross-polarizations:…”

“…Polarization is fundamental/critical parameter of electromagnetic (EM) waves in arising range of polarization-sensitive devices& applications, including beam splitters, wave plates, and antennas, gain enhancement of an antenna as well as reduction of EM interference and radar cross-section (RCS) [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Therefore, there has been an interest in researching new designing and approaches to regulate& manipulate the polarization of EM waves.…”

“…Based on these frequency regions, there exist modes providing easy polarization regulation of the incoming EM wave, such as reflection and transmission modes. Although these modes have various advantages trading off each other, transmission mode is generally used in multi-layer structures and has a cost, time wastage, and production difficulties [4]. However, polarization converters operated with reflection mode are more practical and straightforward because they can be applied in a single layer thanks to their metal-dielectric substrate material-metal structure.…”

A Multiband and Multifunctional Metasurface for Linear and Circular Polarization Conversion in Reflection Modes

“…This converter is capable of achieving both left-and right-handed circular polarization. A reflection-based single-layered multiband polarization converter in the K and Ka bands was proposed by Coskun et al [34]. The structure was based on a hexagonal-shaped metal patch enclosed in a hexagonal ring, with a diagonal split only in the ring.…”