Control of Orbital Angular Momentum Regimen by Modulated Metasurface Leaky-Wave Antennas

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel analytical framework for designing modulated metasurface leaky-wave antennas capable of generating multiple orbital angular momentum states, with implications for high-purity vortex beam applications.

Contribution

It develops an analytical model using Flat Optics and aperture field estimation to enable efficient design of antennas producing multiple OAM states.

Findings

Symmetry of aperture shape influences mode purity.

Circular aperture shape yields high-purity vortex beams.

Proposed antenna offers a simpler alternative to complex vortex generators.

Abstract

In this paper, we present the design procedure of modulated metasurface leaky-wave antennas (MMLWAs) to generate coaxial superposition of vortex beams with several orbital angular momentum (OAM) states. Based on the Flat Optics (FO) technique and aperture field estimation (AFE) method, an analytical framework is proposed to facilitate the implementation of MMLWAs generating multiple topological charges in the OAM regimen. Furthermore, using the spectral analysis which has been derived from the proposed model, we have shown that the symmetry of aperture shape can affect the purity of the mode. Also the perfectly symmetric circular shape is introduced as an ideal choice for high-purity vortex generation. This single aperture antenna with embedded monopole feed can be an appropriate alternative to more complex vortex beam generators such as spiral phase plates and circular antenna arrays.