Time-Domain Filtering of Metasurfaces

Design and analysis for the SPICE parameters of waveform-selective metasurfaces varying with the incident pulse width at a constant oscillation frequency

In this study, we numerically demonstrate how the response of recently reported circuit-based metasurfaces is characterized by their circuit parameters. These metasurfaces, which include a set of four diodes as a full wave rectifier, are capable of sensing different waves even at the same frequency in response to the incident waveform, or more specifically the pulse width. This study reveals the relationship between the electromagnetic response of such waveform-selective metasurfaces and the SPICE parameters of the diodes used. In particular, we draw conclusions about how the SPICE parameters are related to (1) the high-frequency operation, (2) input power requirement and (3) dynamic range of waveform-selective metasurfaces with supporting simulation results. First, we show that reducing a parasitic capacitive component of the diodes is important for realization of the waveform-selective metasurfaces in a higher frequency regime. Second, we report that the operating power level is closely related to the saturation current and the breakdown voltage of the diodes. Moreover, the operating power range is found to be broadened by introducing an additional resistor into the inside of the diode bridge. Our study is expected to provide design guidelines for circuit-based waveform-selective metasurfaces to select/fabricate optimal diodes and enhance the waveform-selective performance at the target frequency and power level. Our results are usefully exploited to ensure the selectivity based on the pulse duration of the incident wave in a range of potential applications including electromagnetic interference, wireless power transfer, antenna design, wireless communications, and sensing.

A Microwave Field-Induced Nonlinear Metamaterial with Wafer Integration Level

Field-induced nonlinear materials, with extended abilities of manipulating electromagnetic waves, have been widely employed in electromagnetic protection, absorption, and detection. Until now, it was found that the field-induced nonlinearity mainly shows in the optical and terahertz frequency bands. Applying the microwave band into such technical activities is hampered due to a lack of investigations on the nonlinearity caused by microwave electric fields, especially in the ultrawideband and microwave high-frequency bands. In this paper, a nonlinear metamaterial (NLMM) concept based on the integration of metamaterial structures and a semiconductor on the same wafer is proposed, which shows nonlinear behavior to the electromagnetics' field energy in the microwave band. The designed NLMM is transparent to low-density electromagnetic radiation fields, while it adaptively becomes opaque to high-density electromagnetic radiation fields. Two types of NLMM are designed to verify the nonlinear characteristics of ultrawide and narrow bands in the microwave band, respectively. The concept of NLMM can be used for the application of the microwave frequency band in electromagnetic protection and detection.

Recent Advances in Reconfigurable Metasurfaces: Principle and Applications

Metasurfaces have shown their great capability to manipulate electromagnetic waves. As a new concept, reconfigurable metasurfaces attract researchers' attention. There are many kinds of reconfigurable components, devices and materials that can be loaded on metasurfaces. When cooperating with reconfigurable structures, dynamic control of the responses of metasurfaces are realized under external excitations, offering new opportunities to manipulate electromagnetic waves dynamically. This review introduces some common methods to design reconfigurable metasurfaces classified by the techniques they use, such as special materials, semiconductor components and mechanical devices. Specifically, this review provides a comparison among all the methods mentioned and discusses their pros and cons. Finally, based on the unsolved problems in the designs and applications, the challenges and possible developments in the future are discussed.

Metasurface sensing difference in waveforms at the same frequency with reduced power level

We numerically demonstrate a new type of waveform-selective metasurface that senses the difference in incoming waveforms or pulse widths at the same frequency. Importantly, the proposed structure contains precise rectifier circuits that, compared to ordinary schottky diodes used within old types of structures, rectify induced electric charges at a markedly reduced input power level depending on several design parameters but mostly on the gain of operational amplifiers. As a result, a waveform-selective absorbing mechanism related to this turn-on voltage appears even with a limited signal strength that is comparable to realistic wireless signal levels. In addition, the proposed structure exhibits a noticeably wide dynamic range from \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$${-}$$\end{document}- 30 to 6 dBm, compared to a conventional structure that operated only around 0 dBm. Thus, our study opens up the door to apply the concept of waveform selectivity to a more practical field of wireless communications to control different small signals at the same frequency.

Responses of Waveform-Selective Absorbing Metasurfaces to Oblique Waves at the Same Frequency

Conventional materials vary their electromagnetic properties in response to the frequency of an incoming wave, but these responses generally remain unchanged at the same frequency unless nonlinearity is involved. Waveform-selective metasurfaces, recently developed by integrating several circuit elements with planar subwavelength periodic structures, allowed us to distinguish different waves even at the same frequency depending on how long the waves continued, namely, on their pulse widths. These materials were thus expected to give us an additional degree of freedom to control electromagnetic waves. However, all the past studies were demonstrated with waves at a normal angle only, although in reality electromagnetic waves scatter from various structures or boundaries and therefore illuminate the metasurfaces at oblique angles. Here we study angular dependences of waveform-selective metasurfaces both numerically and experimentally. We demonstrate that, if designed properly, capacitor-based waveform-selective metasurfaces more effectively absorb short pulses than continuous waves (CWs) for a wide range of the incident angle, while inductor-based metasurfaces absorb CWs more strongly. Our study is expected to be usefully exploited for applying the concept of waveform selectivity to a wide range of existing microwave devices to expand their functionalities or performances in response to pulse width as a new capability.