Optically Controlled Gain Modulation for Microwave Metasurface Antennas

Over the past decade, metasurfaces (MTSs) have emerged as a highly promising platform for the development of next-generation, miniaturized, planar devices across a wide spectrum of microwave frequencies. Among their various applications, the concept of MTS-based antennas, particularly those that are...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Charlotte Tripon-Canseliet, Cristian Della Giovampaola, Nicolas Pavy, Jean Chazelas, Stefano Maci
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-03-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/24/6/1911
_version_ 1827305026742124544
author Charlotte Tripon-Canseliet
Cristian Della Giovampaola
Nicolas Pavy
Jean Chazelas
Stefano Maci
author_facet Charlotte Tripon-Canseliet
Cristian Della Giovampaola
Nicolas Pavy
Jean Chazelas
Stefano Maci
author_sort Charlotte Tripon-Canseliet
collection DOAJ
description Over the past decade, metasurfaces (MTSs) have emerged as a highly promising platform for the development of next-generation, miniaturized, planar devices across a wide spectrum of microwave frequencies. Among their various applications, the concept of MTS-based antennas, particularly those that are based on surface wave excitation, represents a groundbreaking advancement with significant implications for communication technologies. However, existing literature primarily focuses on MTS configurations printed on traditional substrates, largely overlooking the potential benefits of employing photosensitive substrates. This paper endeavors to pioneer this novel path. We present a specialized design of a modulated MTS printed on a silicon substrate, which acts as a photosensitive Ka-band surface wave antenna. Remarkably, the gain of this antenna can be time-modulated, achieving a variance of up to 15 dB, under low-power (below 1 W/cm²) optical illumination at a wavelength of 971 nm. This innovative approach positions the antenna as a direct transducer, capable of converting an optically modulated signal into a microwave-modulated radiated signal, thus offering a new dimension in antenna technology and functionality.
first_indexed 2024-04-24T17:49:05Z
format Article
id doaj.art-16bfedb81e934d0a8a9eecfdf145e6aa
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1424-8220
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-24T17:49:05Z
publishDate 2024-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Sensors
spelling doaj.art-16bfedb81e934d0a8a9eecfdf145e6aa2024-03-27T14:04:07ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202024-03-01246191110.3390/s24061911Optically Controlled Gain Modulation for Microwave Metasurface AntennasCharlotte Tripon-Canseliet0Cristian Della Giovampaola1Nicolas Pavy2Jean Chazelas3Stefano Maci4LPEM-CNRS, PSL, Sorbonne University, 75005 Paris, FranceWAVE-UP, 53100 Siena, ItalyESIEE, 93162 Noisy-Le-Grand, FranceULTIMETAS, 75015 Paris, FranceDepartment of Information Engineering and Mathematics, UNISI, 53100 Siena, ItalyOver the past decade, metasurfaces (MTSs) have emerged as a highly promising platform for the development of next-generation, miniaturized, planar devices across a wide spectrum of microwave frequencies. Among their various applications, the concept of MTS-based antennas, particularly those that are based on surface wave excitation, represents a groundbreaking advancement with significant implications for communication technologies. However, existing literature primarily focuses on MTS configurations printed on traditional substrates, largely overlooking the potential benefits of employing photosensitive substrates. This paper endeavors to pioneer this novel path. We present a specialized design of a modulated MTS printed on a silicon substrate, which acts as a photosensitive Ka-band surface wave antenna. Remarkably, the gain of this antenna can be time-modulated, achieving a variance of up to 15 dB, under low-power (below 1 W/cm²) optical illumination at a wavelength of 971 nm. This innovative approach positions the antenna as a direct transducer, capable of converting an optically modulated signal into a microwave-modulated radiated signal, thus offering a new dimension in antenna technology and functionality.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/24/6/1911metasurfacesmicrowave antennalight-matter interactionsphotoconductivityinterferences
spellingShingle Charlotte Tripon-Canseliet
Cristian Della Giovampaola
Nicolas Pavy
Jean Chazelas
Stefano Maci
Optically Controlled Gain Modulation for Microwave Metasurface Antennas
Sensors
metasurfaces
microwave antenna
light-matter interactions
photoconductivity
interferences
title Optically Controlled Gain Modulation for Microwave Metasurface Antennas
title_full Optically Controlled Gain Modulation for Microwave Metasurface Antennas
title_fullStr Optically Controlled Gain Modulation for Microwave Metasurface Antennas
title_full_unstemmed Optically Controlled Gain Modulation for Microwave Metasurface Antennas
title_short Optically Controlled Gain Modulation for Microwave Metasurface Antennas
title_sort optically controlled gain modulation for microwave metasurface antennas
topic metasurfaces
microwave antenna
light-matter interactions
photoconductivity
interferences
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/24/6/1911
work_keys_str_mv AT charlottetriponcanseliet opticallycontrolledgainmodulationformicrowavemetasurfaceantennas
AT cristiandellagiovampaola opticallycontrolledgainmodulationformicrowavemetasurfaceantennas
AT nicolaspavy opticallycontrolledgainmodulationformicrowavemetasurfaceantennas
AT jeanchazelas opticallycontrolledgainmodulationformicrowavemetasurfaceantennas
AT stefanomaci opticallycontrolledgainmodulationformicrowavemetasurfaceantennas