Broadband Spatio-Temporal Modulated Metasurface for Multifunctional Radar Camouflage

Abstract

Conventional metasurface-based radar camouflage strategies are typically confined to single-function designs, limiting their adaptability to complex and dynamic electromagnetic (EM) environments. Inspired by recent advances in metasurface technology, a multifunctional radar camouflage strategy is proposed by leveraging a broadband fully-polarized spatio-temporal modulation (STM) metasurface, which can achieve range profile distortion, geometric features obfuscation, and radar cross-section reduction. Numerical simulations on satellite RadarSat-1 data demonstrate the proposed device disrupts the intra-pulse characteristics of echoes, thereby interfering with range profile imaging performance. Concurrently, the metasurface exhibits the capability to imitate high-resolution range profiles of complex targets through an innovative spatially partitioned modulation approach, achieving effective concealment of salient geometric features. Additionally, the implementation of an aperiodic modulation scheme enhances the spectral uniformity of the EM scattered waves, leading to a significant reduction in radar cross-section. Both simulation and measurement results have validated the great radar camouflage performance of the proposed STM metasurface, which can be developed for potential applications in radar jamming, secure wireless communication, and other pertinent fields.