Yun Bo Li

Frequency-Controls of Electromagnetic Multi-Beam Scanning by Metasurfaces

We propose a method to control electromagnetic (EM) radiations by holographic metasurfaces, including to producing multi-beam scanning in one dimension (1D) and two dimensions (2D) with the change of frequency. The metasurfaces are composed of subwavelength metallic patches on grounded dielectric substrate. We present a combined theory of holography and leaky wave to realize the multi-beam radiations by exciting the surface interference patterns, which are generated by interference between the excitation source and required radiation waves. As the frequency changes, we show that the main lobes of EM radiation beams could accomplish 1D or 2D scans regularly by using the proposed holographic metasurfaces shaped with different interference patterns. This is the first time to realize 2D scans of antennas by changing the frequency. Full-wave simulations and experimental results validate the proposed theory and confirm the corresponding physical phenomena.

Electromagnetic reprogrammable coding-metasurface holograms

Metasurfaces have enabled a plethora of emerging functions within an ultrathin dimension, paving way towards flat and highly integrated photonic devices. Despite the rapid progress in this area, simultaneous realization of reconfigurability, high efficiency, and full control over the phase and amplitude of scattered light is posing a great challenge. Here, we try to tackle this challenge by introducing the concept of a reprogrammable hologram based on 1-bit coding metasurfaces. The state of each unit cell of the coding metasurface can be switched between ‘1’ and ‘0’ by electrically controlling the loaded diodes. Our proof-of-concept experiments show that multiple desired holographic images can be realized in real time with only a single coding metasurface. The proposed reprogrammable hologram may be a key in enabling future intelligent devices with reconfigurable and programmable functionalities that may lead to advances in a variety of applications such as microscopy, display, security, data storage, and information processing.Realizing metasurfaces with reconfigurability, high efficiency, and control over phase and amplitude is a challenge. Here, Li et al. introduce a reprogrammable hologram based on a 1-bit coding metasurface, where the state of each unit cell of the coding metasurface can be switched electrically.

Transmission-Type 2-Bit Programmable Metasurface for Single-Sensor and Single-Frequency Microwave Imaging.

The programmable and digital metamaterials or metasurfaces presented recently have huge potentials in designing real-time-controlled electromagnetic devices. Here, we propose the first transmission-type 2-bit programmable coding metasurface for single-sensor and single- frequency imaging in the microwave frequency. Compared with the existing single-sensor imagers composed of active spatial modulators with their units controlled independently, we introduce randomly programmable metasurface to transform the masks of modulators, in which their rows and columns are controlled simultaneously so that the complexity and cost of the imaging system can be reduced drastically. Different from the single-sensor approach using the frequency agility, the proposed imaging system makes use of variable modulators under single frequency, which can avoid the object dispersion. In order to realize the transmission-type 2-bit programmable metasurface, we propose a two-layer binary coding unit, which is convenient for changing the voltages in rows and columns to switch the diodes in the top and bottom layers, respectively. In our imaging measurements, we generate the random codes by computer to achieve different transmission patterns, which can support enough multiple modes to solve the inverse-scattering problem in the single-sensor imaging. Simple experimental results are presented in the microwave frequency, validating our new single-sensor and single-frequency imaging system.

Generation of spatial Bessel beams using holographic metasurface

We propose to use backward radiations of leaky waves supported by a holographic metasurface to produce spatial Bessel beams in the microwave frequency regime. The holographic metasurface consists of a grounded dielectric slab and a series of metal patches. By changing the size of metal patches, the surface-impedance distribution of the holographic metasurface can be modulated, and hence the radiation properties of the leaky waves can be designed to realize Bessel beams. Both numerical simulations and experiments verify the features of spatial Bessel beams, which may be useful in imaging applications or wireless power transmissions with the dynamic focal-depth controls.

Simultaneous controls of surface waves and propagating waves by metasurfaces

We propose a hybrid metasurface to control surface and propagating waves simultaneously. The hybrid metasurface is composed of planar metamaterial to interact with surface waves and holographic metasurface to modulate propagating waves. As an experimental verification, we design and fabricate a special hybrid metasurface in microwave frequency, which contains a surface-wave Luneburg lens and a focusing holographic surface. Numerical and measured results show multi-functional abilities of the hybrid metasurface in controlling the surface and propagating waves simultaneously. It is expected that the proposed methodology will facilitate applications of surface waves in information processing, near-field detection, and wireless communications.

Diffraction-free surface waves by metasurfaces.

We propose a method to design and realize planar Bessel lens using artificial metasurfaces to produce diffraction-free surface waves. The planar Bessel lens is composed of two sublenses: a half Maxwell fisheye lens which can shape the surface cylindrical waves to surface plane waves, and an inhomogeneous flat lens which can convert the surface plane waves into approximate diffraction-free surface waves in a diamond-shaped focusing area. Through the planar Bessel lens, a point source on the metasurface directly radiates the diffraction-free surface waves. In realization, we construct the inhomogeneous metasurfaces by subwavelength metallic patches printed on a grounded dielectric substrate. Simulation and experimental results have good agreements, which jointly show the formation of the diffraction-free surface waves in the microwave band.

Surface Fourier-transform lens using a metasurface

We propose a surface (or 2D) Fourier-transform lens using a gradient refractive index (GRIN) metasurface in the microwave band, which is composed of sub-wavelength quasi-periodical metallic patches on a grounded dielectric substrate. Such a metasurface supports the transverse magnetic (TM) modes of surface waves. To gradually change the size of textures, we obtain different surface refractive indices, which can be tailored to fit the required refractive-index profile of a surface Fourier-transform lens. According to the theory of spatial Fourier transformation, we make use of the proposed lens to realize surface plane-wave scanning under different feeding locations. The simulation and experimental results jointly confirm the validity of the surface Fourier-transform lens. The proposed method can also be extended to the terahertz frequency.

Frequency-Controlled Broad-Angle Beam Scanning of Patch Array Fed by Spoof Surface Plasmon Polaritons

Frequency-controlled broadband and broad-angle beam scanning is proposed using a circular-patch array fed by planar spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). Here, a row of circularly metallic patches is placed near an ultrathin planar spoof SPP waveguide. When the SPP wave is transmitted through the waveguide, the circular patches are fed at the same time. Because of the phase difference fed to the patches, the proposed structure can realize wide-angle beam scanning from backward direction to forward direction as the frequency changes, breaking the limit of traditional leaky-wave antennas. Both numerical simulations and measured results demonstrate good performance of the proposed structure. It is shown that the scanning angle can reach 55° with an average gain level of 9.8 dBi. The proposed frequency scanning patch array is of great value in planar integrated communication systems.

Leaky-Wave Radiations by Modulating Surface Impedance on Subwavelength Corrugated Metal Structures.

One-dimensional (1D) subwavelength corrugated metal structures has been described to support spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). Here we demonstrate that a periodically modulated 1D subwavelength corrugated metal structure can convert spoof SPPs to propagating waves. The structure is fed at the center through a slit with a connected waveguide on the input side. The subwavelength corrugated metal structure on the output surface is regarded as metasurface and modulated periodically to realize the leaky-wave radiation at the broadside. The surface impedance of the corrugated metal structure is modulated by using cosine function and triangle-wave function, respectively, to reach the radiation effect. Full wave simulations and measuremental results are presented to validate the proposed design.

Holographic leaky-wave metasurfaces for dual-sensor imaging.

Metasurfaces have huge potentials to develop new type imaging systems due to their abilities of controlling electromagnetic waves. Here, we propose a new method for dual-sensor imaging based on cross-like holographic leaky-wave metasurfaces which are composed of hybrid isotropic and anisotropic surface impedance textures. The holographic leaky-wave radiations are generated by special impedance modulations of surface waves excited by the sensor ports. For one independent sensor, the main leaky-wave radiation beam can be scanned by frequency in one-dimensional space, while the frequency scanning in the orthogonal spatial dimension is accomplished by the other sensor. Thus, for a probed object, the imaging plane can be illuminated adequately to obtain the two-dimensional backward scattered fields by the dual-sensor for reconstructing the object. The relativity of beams under different frequencies is very low due to the frequency-scanning beam performance rather than the random beam radiations operated by frequency, and the multi-illuminations with low relativity are very appropriate for multi-mode imaging method with high resolution and anti- noise. Good reconstruction results are given to validate the proposed imaging method.