Analytical and numerical modeling of reconfigurable reflecting metasurfaces with capacitive memory

TL;DR

This paper presents analytical and numerical models for reconfigurable metasurfaces with varactor diodes, enabling phase control, and proposes a capacitive memory control network for independent unit cell programming.

Contribution

It introduces two analytical models for reconfigurable metasurfaces and proposes a capacitive memory control network for independent cell programming.

Findings

Validated models with full-wave simulations

Demonstrated suppression of parasitic resonances

Outlined design for capacitive memory control network

Abstract

In this article, we develop analytical-numerical models for reconfigurable reflecting metasurfaces formed by chessboard-patterned arrays of metallic patches. These patch arrays are loaded with varactor diodes in order to enable surface impedance and reflection phase control. Two types of analytical models are considered. The first model based on the effective medium approach is used to predict the metasurface reflectivity. The second model is the Bloch wave dispersion model for the same structure understood as a two-dimensional transmission line metamaterial. The latter model is used to study ways to suppress parasitic resonances in finite-size beamforming metasurfaces. We validate the developed analytical models with full-wave numerical simulations. Finally, we outline a design of the metasurface control network with capacitive memory that may allow for independent programming of individual unit cells of the beamforming metasurface.