Transformation Electromagnetics Devices Based on Printed-Circuit Tensor Impedance Surfaces

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method for designing transformation electromagnetics devices using tensor impedance surfaces, enabling control over wave propagation with practical printed-circuit implementations.

Contribution

It presents a novel approach to design anisotropic tensor impedance surfaces, including printed-circuit types, supporting specified wave vector and power flow distributions.

Findings

Designs of beamshifting devices verified with electromagnetic simulations

Method applicable to both idealized and practical printed-circuit tensor impedance surfaces

Enables new electromagnetic field guidance and radiation applications

Abstract

A method for designing transformation electromagnetics devices using tensor impedance surfaces (TISs) is presented. The method is first applied to idealized tensor impedance boundary conditions (TIBCs), and later to printed-circuit tensor impedance surfaces (PCTISs). A PCTIS is a practical realization of a TIBC. It consists of a tensor impedance sheet, which models a subwavelength patterned metallic cladding, over a grounded dielectric substrate. The method outlined in this paper allows anisotropic TIBCs and PCTISs to be designed that support tangential wave vector distributions and power flow directions specified by a coordinate transformation. As an example, beamshifting devices are designed, using TIBCs and PCTISs, that allow a surface wave to be shifted laterally. The designs are verified with a commercial full-wave electromagnetic solver. This work opens new opportunities for the design and implementation of anisotropic and inhomogeneous printed-circuit or graphene based surfaces that can guide or radiate electromagnetic fields.