Functionally Reconfigurable Integrated Structure of Fabry-Perot Antenna and Wideband Liquid Absorber

TL;DR

This paper introduces a reconfigurable structure combining a Fabry-Perot antenna and wideband liquid absorber, enabling switching between detection and stealth modes for adaptable electromagnetic applications.

Contribution

It presents a novel integrated design that allows seamless switching between antenna and absorber functions using liquid injection and extraction.

Findings

Antenna gain reaches 19.7 dBi with a 100 MHz bandwidth.

Absorber covers 4-20 GHz with over 133% bandwidth.

RCS reduction averages 28.4 dB across 4-20 GHz.

Abstract

This paper proposes a functionally reconfigurable integrated structure of a Fabry-Perot (FP) antenna and wideband liquid absorber. The partial reflecting surface (PRS) is elaborately tailored to serve as both a component of the FP antenna and the metal ground of the broadband liquid absorber. Then the integrated structure is realized by combining the FP antenna with the liquid absorber. The PRS is composed of patches on the top layer of the substrate and the square loop on the bottom and the microstrip patch antenna is used as a source. The liquid absorber is composed of a 3-D printed container, 45% ethanol layer, and a metal ground. By this design, the structure can serve as the FP antenna when the ethanol is extracted or the liquid absorber when the ethanol is injected. This can be used to switch between detection and stealth mode which can better adapt to the complex electromagnetic environment. The simulation results show that the gain of the antenna reaches to 19.7 dBi and the operating band is 100 MHz when the ethanol is extracted. When the ethanol is injected, the absorption band of the absorber ranges from 4 GHz to 20 GHz and the absorption bandwidth is over 133%. The monostatic RCS reduction bands of the structure with ethanol range from 4 GHz to 20GHz and the average RCS reduction is 28.4 dB. The measured and simulated results agree well.