A linear-to-circular polarization converter with half transmission and half reflection using a single-layered metamaterial

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical and numerical demonstration of a single-layered metamaterial that converts linear polarization to circular polarization with equal transmission and reflection, acting as a half mirror and quarter-wave plate.

Contribution

It introduces a novel single-layered metamaterial design using coupled split-ring resonators for efficient polarization conversion with balanced transmission and reflection.

Findings

Achieves linear-to-circular polarization conversion with half transmission and reflection.

Behavior characterized as a half mirror and quarter-wave plate.

Design verified through finite-difference time-domain simulations.

Abstract

A linear-to-circular polarization converter with half transmission and half reflection using a single-layered metamaterial is theoretically and numerically demonstrated. The unit cell of the metamaterial consists of two coupled split-ring resonators with identical dimensions. A theoretical analysis based on an electrical circuit model of the coupled split-ring resonators indicates that the linear-to-circular polarization converter is achieved when the magnetic coupling between the split-ring resonators is set to a certain strength. A finite-difference time-domain simulation reveals that the single-layered metamaterial behaves as the linear-to-circular polarization converter and that the polarization converter has the combined characteristics of a half mirror and a quarter-wave plate.