Reconfigurable Metasurface: A Systematic Categorization and Recent Advances

TL;DR

This paper systematically categorizes reconfigurable metasurfaces (R-MTS) based on their interaction with electromagnetic waves and reviews recent advances in 1-bit and 2-bit R-MTS elements, highlighting future research directions.

Contribution

It introduces a unified model for R-MTS interactions and proposes a novel information bit allocation strategy for systematic categorization.

Findings

Review of recent R-MTS advances in 1-bit and 2-bit elements

Proposed unified model for R-MTS and EM wave interactions

Discussion of future R-MTS research trends

Abstract

Considering the rapid progress of theory, design, fabrication and applications, metasurface (MTS) has become a new research frontier in microwave, terahertz and optical bands. Reconfigurable metasurface (R-MTS) can dynamically modulate electromagnetic (EM) wave with unparalleled flexibility, which leads to great research tide in recent years. Numerous R-MTSs with powerful capabilities and various functions are presented explosively. In light of the five dimensions of EM wave, this review proposes a unified model to describe the interactions among R-MTS, EM wave and EM information, and suggests information bit allocation strategy to categorize different types of R-MTSs systematically. As recent advances of R-MTS, 1-bit and 2-bit elements manipulating different wave dimensions are reviewed respectively in detail. Finally, this review discusses the future research trends of R-MTS. Hopefully, R-MTSs with diverse dimensions and functions can propel the next generation of communication, detection, sensing, imaging and computing applications.