Germanium Telluride reconfigurable antennas

Abstract

This paper discusses the viability of using Germanium Telluride (GeTe) thin films as reconfigurable antennas. The reconfiguration technique is based on altering the phase of GeTe from a conductive crystalline state to a highly resistive amorphous state or vice versa. Using a laser to alter the phase, any antenna geometry can be drawn into a GeTe thin film or an existing antenna can be reconfigured into any other desired geometry. Photographs of a reconfigured GeTe antenna fabricated at the US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) are shown and simulation results comparing a GeTe antenna to conventional antenna materials are presented.