High-Efficiency Metasurface With Polarization-Dependent Transmission and Reflection Properties for Both Reflectarray and Transmitarray

Abstract

The use of microstrip transmitarrays (TAs) and reflectarrays (RAs) is essential in long-range communication systems because of their high-gain radiations, narrow beam widths, simple configurations, and easy fabrication. We propose a novel antenna system that combines the functionalities of TAs and RAs. The antenna system consists of a specially designed bifunctional metalens and a self-made Vivaldi antenna (feed source). The metalens can focus the y-polarized incident wave at the transmission side and focus the x-polarized wave at the reflection side with the same focal length. By launching the metalens with differently polarized Vivaldi antennas, we were able to obtain a TA and RA. Moreover, the realized RA can deflect the radiation beam to a specified angle to avoid blockage of the feed antenna. Our numerical and experimental results coincided, indicating that the proposed antenna system demonstrated several improvements, including the ability to achieve multiradiation patterns, realize high gains, and adopt simple standard print circuit board technology. Our findings significantly expand the capabilities of metasurfaces in controlling electromagnetic waves and open up a new avenue for the design of high-performance multifunctional antenna systems and metadevices.