Experimental validation of a Ku-band dual circularly polarized metasurface antenna

Abstract

The experimental validation of a Ku-band dual circularly polarized (CP) broadside-beam metasurface (MTS) antenna is presented. A radially modulated anisotropic single layer MTS has been synthesised employing sub-wavelength elliptical slotted metallic patches printed on top of a thin Arlon grounded substrate. In the structure, two decoupled phasematched transverse magnetic and transverse electric surface waves (SWs) are excited, which interact with the modulated surface leading to a CP broadside radiation. Two different orthomode transducers have been designed to excite the SWs with orthogonal polarization and equal amplitude. The first feeding system is composed of a metallic stepped septum inside an airfilled square waveguide. A conical section is included to match the output port of the square waveguide with the terminal, dielectric filled circular waveguide. The second feed is much more compact and efficient and it is composed of a circular waveguide completely filled by a dielectric. Depending on the input port excited on the feeds, two TE11 modes are excited with ±90° phase shift, which determine the right-hand or left-hand sense of the broadside beam generated by the MTS. Manufacturing details of the MTS and excitations are given and the measurements are compared with the simulation results. Finally, conclusions are drawn.