Time-varying Metasurface Research Articles

Time-varying metasurface driven broadband radar jamming and deceptions

Conventional radar jamming and deception systems typically necessitate the custom design of complex circuits and algorithms to transmit an additional radio signal toward a detector. Consequently, they are often cumbersome, energy-intensive, and difficult to operate in broadband electromagnetic environment. With the ongoing trend of miniaturization of various devices and the improvement of radar system performance, traditional techniques no longer meet the requirements for broadband, seamless integration, and energy efficiency. Time-varying metasurfaces, capable of manipulating electromagnetic parameters in both temporal and spatial domains, have thus inspired many contemporary research studies to revisit established fields. In this paper, we introduce a time-varying metasurface driven radar jamming and deception system (TVM-RJD), which can perfectly overcome the aforementioned intrinsic challenges. Leveraging a programmable bias voltage, the TVM-RJD can alter the spectrum distribution of incident waves, thereby deceiving radar into making erroneous judgments about the target's location. Experimental outcomes affirm that the accuracy deviation of the TVM-RJD system is less than 0.368 meters, while achieving a remarkable frequency conversion efficiency of up to 96.67%. The TVM-RJD heralds the expansion into a wider application of electromagnetic spatiotemporal manipulation, paving the way for advancements in electromagnetic illusion, radar invisibility, etc.

Linear and phase controllable terahertz frequency conversion via ultrafast breaking the bond of a meta-molecule

The metasurface platform with time-varying characteristics has emerged as a promising avenue for exploring exotic physics associated with Floquet materials and for designing photonic devices like linear frequency converters. However, the limited availability of materials with ultrafast responses hinders their applications in the terahertz range. Here we present a time-varying metasurface comprising an array of superconductor-metal hybrid meta-molecules. Each meta-molecule consists of two meta-atoms that are “bonded” together by double superconducting microbridges. Through experimental investigations, we demonstrate high-efficiency linear terahertz frequency conversion by rapidly breaking the bond using a coherent ultrashort terahertz pump pulse. The frequency and relative phase of the converted wave exhibit strong dependence on the pump-probe delay, indicating phase controllable wave conversion. The dynamics of the meta-molecules during the frequency conversion process are comprehensively understood using a time-varying coupled mode model. This research not only opens up new possibilities for developing innovative terahertz sources but also provides opportunities for exploring topological dynamics and Floquet physics within metasurfaces.

Storage and retrieval of electromagnetic waves in a metasurface based on bound states in the continuum by conductivity modulation.

In this study, we develop a time-varying metasurface based on the bound states in the continuum (BIC) with variable conductors, to store electromagnetic waves. The storage and retrieval of electromagnetic waves are demonstrated numerically through dynamic switching between quasi-BIC and BIC states by modulating the variable conductors. The storage efficiency exhibits oscillatory behaviors with respect to the timing of storage and retrieval. These behaviors can be attributed to the interference of a resonant mode and a static mode that is formed by direct current. In addition, the storage efficiency of a single-layer metasurface can reach 35% under ideal conditions.

Active terahertz frequency conversion on silicon-based time-varying metasurface

Terahertz (THz) metasurfaces have emerged as the preferred material for active devices, with numerous potential applications. However, due to a lack of materials with an ultrafast response, functional devices with fascinating time-varying phenomena remain to be explored. In this study, we experimentally investigated a time-varying THz metasurface with silicon–gold hybrid structures. The results show that the transmission spectra undergo a remarkable transformation when an optical pump is used. A transient time boundary is introduced to study the time-varying response using the sudden change in silicon conductivity in the presence of an optical pump. We observed the generation of new spectral components, and the magnitude of the converted wave is linear with the incident power. The proposed silicon-based THz time-varying metasurface paves the way for developing THz sources and nonlinear optical devices.

Time-Domain Meshless Method Simulation of Metasurfaces With Generalized Sheet Transition Conditions

This paper presents a new time-domain formulation of a meshless method based on the generalized sheet transition conditions (GSTCs). This formulation is applicable for modeling a kind of dispersive metasurface and a time-varying metasurface. This is the first time a meshless method is developed for analysis of the metasurfaces using GSTCs. The significance of time-domain meshless methods originates from their capabilities for multi-scale and conformal modeling in addition to analysis of problems in a broad frequency-range. Here, for simplicity, the meshless formulation is presented for analysis of 1-D problems consisting of monoisotropic metasurfaces. The extension of this method to 2-D and 3-D problems or bianisotropic metasurfaces is straightforward. The scheme is verified by numerical examples.

Transient Electromagnetic Plane Wave Scattering by a Time-Varying Metasurface: A Time-Domain Approach Based on Reciprocity

Transient Electromagnetic Plane Wave Scattering by a Time-Varying Metasurface: A Time-Domain Approach Based on Reciprocity

Light-controllable time-domain digital coding metasurfaces

Programmable metasurfaces enable real-time control of electromagnetic waves in a digital coding manner, which are suitable for implementing time-domain metasurfaces with strong harmonic manipulation capabilities. However, the time-domain metasurfaces are usually realized by adopting the wired electrical control method, which is effective and robust, but there are still some limitations. Here, we propose a light-controllable time-domain digital coding metasurface consisting of a full-polarization dynamic metasurface and a high-speed photoelectric detection circuit, from which the microwave reflection spectra are manipulated by time-varying light signals with periodic phase modulations. As demonstrated, the light-controllable time-domain digital coding metasurface is illuminated by the light signals with two designed time-coding sequences. The measured results show that the metasurface can well generate symmetrical harmonics and white-noise-like spectra, respectively, under such cases in the reflected wave. The proposed light-controllable time-varying metasurface offers a planar interface to tailor and link microwaves with lights in the time domain, which could promote the development of photoelectric hybrid metasurfaces and related multiphysics applications.

Intelligent Time-Varying Metasurface Transceiver for Index Modulation in 6G Wireless Networks

Index modulation (IM) is one of the candidate technologies for the upcoming sixth generation (6G) wireless communications networks. In this paper, we propose a space-time-modulated reconfigurable intelligent metasurface (RI-MTS) that is configured to implement various frequency-domain IM techniques in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) array configuration. Unlike prior works which mostly analyze signal theory of general RI-MTS IM, we present novel electromagnetics-compliant designs of specific IMs such as sub-carrier index modulation (SIM) and MIMO orthogonal frequency-domain modulation IM (MIMO-OFDM-IM). Our full-wave electromagnetic simulations and analytical computations establish the programmable ability of these transceivers to vary the reflection phase and generate frequency harmonics for IM. Our experiments for bit error rate show that RI-MTS-based SIM and MIMO-OFDM-IM are lower than conventional MIMO-OFDM.

Quad-band linear terahertz frequency conversion in time-varying metasurfaces

In this Letter, a quad-band linear frequency conversion prototype is proposed and investigated in terahertz region based on a time-varying metasurface. The unit cell of the metasurface consists of four pairs of concentric split-ring resonators loaded with photoactive silicon. By changing the conductivity of photoactive silicon via optical pump, both static and time-varying metasurfaces are achieved and investigated. Numerical results show that the transmission spectrum of the static metasurface has four merged resonant frequencies at 0.49THz, 0.58THz, 0.71THz, 0.81THz respectively, and linear frequency conversion appears at these four frequencies under the modulation of time-varying metasurface. The conversion linearity is also verified by applying dual-band bandpass filters with different center frequency. The coefficients of determination are 0.98, 0.94, 0.87, 0.96 correspondingly. This prototype provides a new approach for realizing quad-band frequency conversion for ambient terahertz wave and has wide applications in terahertz imaging and communication systems.

Frequency conversion and parametric amplification using a virtually rotating metasurface.

We analyze the scattering of circularly polarized electromagnetic waves from a time-varying metasurface having a time-dependent surface susceptibility that locally mimics a rotating, anisotropic surface. Such virtually rotating metasurfaces (VRM) can be realized by means of electronically tunable surface elements and reach microwave-range rotation frequencies. It is shown that the scattered field contains the incident tone, as well as a single up-or down converted tone which differs by twice the rotation frequency of the surface. A simple full frequency converter is then proposed by augmenting the VRM with a metal screen separated by a proper distance. It is shown that after reflection from this system, the incident tone is fully converted to a single down- or up-converted tone, and shows amplification in the case of up conversion. The analysis of these time-rotating scenarios is carried out by switching to a rotating frame for the fields, leading to time-invariant equations, and thus using common phasor-representation. All results are also validated against an in-house 1D-FDTD code showing excellent agreement. A lumped element model using a 2D periodic metal mesh grid loaded with time-varying capacitive nodes is also presented that enables the VRM concept. This model is then further used to design a 3D realization, verified with static full-wave simulations for different values of the capacitor arrangement. Furthermore, the effect of piece-wise constant changes of surface susceptibility in a general virtually rotating metasurface is studied and it is shown to operate with acceptable results, which is of practical importance. The results of this paper can open new ways for realization of frequency conversion and amplification, in a magnetless and linear time-varying system.

Negative Refraction in Time-Varying Strongly Coupled Plasmonic-Antenna-Epsilon-Near-Zero Systems.

Time-varying metasurfaces are emerging as a powerful instrument for the dynamical control of the electromagnetic properties of a propagating wave. Here we demonstrate an efficient time-varying metasurface based on plasmonic nano-antennas strongly coupled to an epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) deeply subwavelength film. The plasmonic resonance of the metal resonators strongly interacts with the optical ENZ modes, providing a Rabi level spitting of ∼30%. Optical pumping at frequency ω induces a nonlinear polarization oscillating at 2ω responsible for an efficient generation of a phase conjugate and a negative refracted beam with a conversion efficiency that is more than 4 orders of magnitude greater compared to the bare ENZ film. The introduction of a strongly coupled plasmonic system therefore provides a simple and effective route towards the implementation of ENZ physics at the nanoscale.

Time-varying Metasurfaces for Broadband Spectral Camouflage

The possibility of making an object invisible for detectors has become a topic of considerable interest over the past decades. Most of the studies so far focused on reducing the visibility by reshaping the electromagnetic scattering in the spatial domain. In fact, by manipulating the electromagnetic scattering in the time domain, the visibility of an object can also be reduced. Importantly, unlike previous studies on phase-switched screens and time-varying metasurfaces, where the effect is narrow band due to the dispersive resonance, for microwave frequency range, we introduce a broadband switchable metasurface integrated with p-i-n diodes. The reflection phase of the metasurface can be changed by approximately {\pi} over a fractional bandwidth of 76%. By modulating the metasurface quasirandomly in the time domain, the incident narrow-band signal is spread into a white-noiselike spectrum upon reflection, creating a spectral camouflage. The broadband feature of the proposed time-varying metasurface can provide practical insight for various applications, including radar stealth and ultrawide-band wireless communication.

Electrical control of terahertz frequency conversion from time-varying surfaces.

We investigate the electrical control of frequency conversion from a time-varying interdigitated photo-conductive antenna (IPCA) and time-varying metasurface in the terahertz (THz) frequency range. Ultrafast near-infrared (NIR) optical pulses rapidly modify the conductivities of the IPCA and metasurface; however, external voltages can retard this conductivity transition. Thus, external voltages can be used to control the frequency conversion process based on the interaction between the THz waves and the time-varying surfaces. In the IPCA, both frequency up- and down-conversion processes are suppressed by external voltages. However, in the metasurface, the down-conversion is dramatically suppressed by external voltages, whereas the suppression on the up-conversion is less effective.

Using graphene metasurface as a time lens for ultrafast signal processing in the terahertz regime

Ultrafast signal processing in the time domain with high resolution and reconfigurability is a challenging task. This paper, for the first time to our knowledge, introduces a time-varying metasurface consisting of a graphene micro-ribbon array for implementing a time lens in the terahertz domain. Given that the surface conductivity of graphene is proportional to the Fermi energy level in the terahertz regime, it is possible to change the phase property of the incident electromagnetic pulse by changing the Fermi level while the Fermi level itself is a function of voltage. Upon this fact, a quadratic temporal phase modulator, namely, a time lens, has been realized. This phase modulation is applied to the impinging signal in the time domain. The terahertz time lens is a key element for processing of ultrafast temporal pulses. Using this time lens, a temporal filter in the terahertz regime is designed and simulated, which could have applications in terahertz communication and spectroscopy.