Wideband 1-Bit Reconfigurable Metasurface Based on Active Polarization Rotation Reflective Surface

Abstract

A broadband active polarization rotation reflective surface (PRRS) featuring 1-bit reconfiguration capability is proposed in this letter. The unit cell can realize 1-bit reconfiguration within the frequency range of 6.15 GHz to 23 GHz, achieving polarization rotation while maintaining cross-polarized coefficients above −1 dB. The electromagnetic waves can be rotated by 90° and reflected with a 180° relative phase difference by the active PRRS in both states. The active polarization rotation performance is initially realized through the use of metal strips integrated with p-i-n diodes. The vertical interconnect access is reused to realize dc bias and enhance the unit's RF performance, introducing an additional resonance. The active PRRS is applied to radar cross section (RCS) reduction to validate its performance. Simulation results demonstrate that the directions of the RCS peaks can be dynamically controlled. A monostatic RCS reduction exceeding 10 dB is achieved across the frequency range of 6.1 GHz to 23 GHz, compared to an equal-sized metal plate. A prototype comprising a 12 × 12 array of elements has been fabricated for experimental verification.