A One-Bit Programmable Multi-Functional Metasurface for Microwave Beam Shaping

Abstract

In this paper, we demonstrate a multi-functional metasurface for microwave beam-shaping application. The metasurface consists of an array of programmable unit cells, and each unit cell is integrated with one varactor diode. By turning the electrical bias on the diode on and off, the phase delay of the microwave reflected by the metasurface can be switched between 0 and π at a 6.2 GHz frequency, which makes the metasurface 1-bit-coded. By programming the 1-bit-coded metasurface, the generation of a single-focus beam, a double-focus beam and a focused vortex beam was experimentally demonstrated. Furthermore, the single-focus beam with tunable focal lengths of 54 mm, 103 mm and 152 mm was experimentally observed at 5.7 GHz. The proposed programmable metasurface manifests robust and flexible beam-shaping ability which allows its application to microwave imaging, information transmission and sensing applications.