Polarization Reconfigurable Intelligent Metasurface for X- & Ku-band Applications in Communications

This article presents a polarization reconfigurable intelligent metasurface (PRIM) to realize on demand switchable cross polarization conversion and circular polarization conversion by linearly incident electromagnetic (EM) wave through globally tuned PIN diode models. The unit cell structure of PRIM consists of I-Shaped structure supported with split circle and biasing lines to control the states of voltage-controlled PIN diodes. The modeled PIN diodes are incorporated in between split circle and on the edges of unit cells. The ON/OFF states of these PIN diodes can switch the polarization state of a wave between linear and circular polarizations. The novel approach ensures the provision of electronically controlled, ultra-wide band (UWB) reflective circular-polarization in one state and cross-polarization in the other, over same functional frequency band of X- and Ku-band. The results demonstrate that in open/off state the metasurface presents cross polarization ranging from 9 GHz to 19 GHz, while in short/on state metasurface presents circular polarization ranging from 10 GHz to 22 GHz. The designed metasurface is fabricated using hardwire-bond technique to replicate functionality of diodes and tested to validate the performance of PRIM.