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

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how modulating the surface impedance of subwavelength corrugated metal structures can convert spoof surface plasmon polaritons into leaky-wave radiations, validated through simulations and measurements.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method of using periodic impedance modulation to achieve broadside leaky-wave radiation from spoof SPP-supporting structures.

Findings

Successful conversion of spoof SPPs to propagating waves

Effective broadside radiation achieved through cosine and triangle-wave impedance modulation

Validation via full wave simulations and experimental measurements

Abstract

One-dimensional (1D) subwavelength corrugated metal structures has been described to support spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). Here we demonstrate that a 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.