Cited by 69Advanced Antenna and Metasurface TechnologiesMetamaterials and Metasurfaces ApplicationsElectromagnetic Scattering and Analysis

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Broadband diffuse terahertz wave scattering by flexible metasurface with randomized phase distribution

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Abstract

Suppressing specular electromagnetic wave reflection or backward radar cross section is important and of broad interests in practical electromagnetic engineering. Here, we present a scheme to achieve broadband backward scattering reduction through diffuse terahertz wave reflection by a flexible metasurface. The diffuse scattering of terahertz wave is caused by the randomized reflection phase distribution on the metasurface, which consists of meta-particles of differently sized metallic patches arranged on top of a grounded polyimide substrate simply through a certain computer generated pseudorandom sequence. Both numerical simulations and experimental results demonstrate the ultralow specular reflection over a broad frequency band and wide angle of incidence due to the re-distribution of the incident energy into various directions. The diffuse scattering property is also polarization insensitive and can be well preserved when the flexible metasurface is conformably wrapped on a curved reflective object. The proposed design opens up a new route for specular reflection suppression and may be applicable in stealth and other technology in the terahertz spectrum.

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Figure 1 The proposed metasurface with random phase distribution. (a) Schematics of the metasurface, the seven meta-particles with different sizes and the definition of geometric parameters. (b) The reflection phase spectrum for different meta-particles under x- and y-polarization incidence, where 1 to 7 corresponding to the elements with different side length a of 5 μm, 30 μm, 45 μm, 57.5 μm, 70 μm, 85 μm, 110 μm respectively. (c) The reflection phase at 1.2 THz as a function of a for x- and y-polarized wave incidence.
Figure 1 The proposed metasurface with random phase distribution. (a) Schematics of the metasurface, the seven meta-particles with different sizes and the definition of geometric parameters. (b) The reflection phase spectrum for different meta-particles under x- and y-polarization incidence, where 1 to 7 corresponding to the elements with different side length a of 5 μm, 30 μm, 45 μm, 57.5 μm, 70 μm, 85 μm, 110 μm respectively. (c) The reflection phase at 1.2 THz as a function of a for x- and y-polarized wave incidence.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 Simulation of the far-field scattering performance. (a–h) Far-field scattering patterns of a flat metasurface under normal incidence of y- (a–d), and x-polarization (e–h) at 1.0 THz, 1.2 THz, 1.4 THz, and 1.6 THz, respectively. (i) Far-field scattering pattern of PEC plate for normal incidence with x- or y-polarization. (j) The simulated reflection spectra of three random distribution patterns of elements under normal incidence of x- or y-polarization.
Figure 2 Simulation of the far-field scattering performance. (a–h) Far-field scattering patterns of a flat metasurface under normal incidence of y- (a–d), and x-polarization (e–h) at 1.0 THz, 1.2 THz, 1.4 THz, and 1.6 THz, respectively. (i) Far-field scattering pattern of PEC plate for normal incidence with x- or y-polarization. (j) The simulated reflection spectra of three random distribution patterns of elements under normal incidence of x- or y-polarization.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 3 3D RCS patterns for the flexible metasurface. Simulated results under normal incidence of y-polarized wave (a–d) and x-polarized wave (f–i) at 1.0 THz, 1.2 THz, 1.4 THz, and 1.6 THz, respectively, comparing with that of the bare metal cylinder for normal incidence of y-polarized wave (e) or x-polarized wave (j).
Figure 3 3D RCS patterns for the flexible metasurface. Simulated results under normal incidence of y-polarized wave (a–d) and x-polarized wave (f–i) at 1.0 THz, 1.2 THz, 1.4 THz, and 1.6 THz, respectively, comparing with that of the bare metal cylinder for normal incidence of y-polarized wave (e) or x-polarized wave (j).CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 4 Fabricated metasurface sample and reflection measurement. (a) The photograph of the whole sample and enlarged microscope view of a super cell in the fabricated metasurface. (b) The simulated and measured reflection spectra under normal incidence for TE (black lines) or TM polarization (red lines).
Figure 4 Fabricated metasurface sample and reflection measurement. (a) The photograph of the whole sample and enlarged microscope view of a super cell in the fabricated metasurface. (b) The simulated and measured reflection spectra under normal incidence for TE (black lines) or TM polarization (red lines).CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 5 The distributions of measured reflection coefficients in wide frequency band. The results under different incidence angles of TE (a) and TM waves (b). The results for different reflection angles under the incidence angle of 13° of TE (c) and TM waves (d).
Figure 5 The distributions of measured reflection coefficients in wide frequency band. The results under different incidence angles of TE (a) and TM waves (b). The results for different reflection angles under the incidence angle of 13° of TE (c) and TM waves (d).CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 6 The reflection spectra of flexible metasurface. Results for metal cylinder with (black lines) and without (red lines) flexible metasurface wrapping under normal incidence of TE polarization (a) and TM polarization (b).
Figure 6 The reflection spectra of flexible metasurface. Results for metal cylinder with (black lines) and without (red lines) flexible metasurface wrapping under normal incidence of TE polarization (a) and TM polarization (b).CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 7 The distributions of measured reduction of reflection coefficients relative to bare metal cylinder in wide frequency band. The results under different incidence angles of TE (a) or TM polarizations (b). The results for different reflection angles under the incidence angle of 13° for TE (c) or TM polarizations (d).
Figure 7 The distributions of measured reduction of reflection coefficients relative to bare metal cylinder in wide frequency band. The results under different incidence angles of TE (a) or TM polarizations (b). The results for different reflection angles under the incidence angle of 13° for TE (c) or TM polarizations (d).CC BY · PubMed Central

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Research works printed but not linked: 35

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Metadata

Authors
Zhang, Y., Liang, L., Yang, J., Feng, Y., Zhu, B., Zhao, J., Jiang, T., Jin, B., & Liu, W.
Affiliations
  • Nanjing University (CN)
  • Nankai University (CN)
Corresponding author
Feng, Yijun
Venue
Scientific Reports
Published
2016-05-26
Volume
6
Issue
1
Pages
26875-26875
ISSN
2045-2322 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2400732625
Cited by
69
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 2
FWCI
16.29
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Scientific Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (61571216, 61371034, 61301017, 61571218)
  • Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China (20120091110032)
  • Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions
  • Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Manipulating Technique of Electromagnetic Wave
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Advanced Antenna and Metasurface Technologies
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials › Metamaterials and Metasurfaces Applications
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Electromagnetic Scattering and Analysis
Keywords
terahertz metasurfaces, diffuse scattering, specular reflection suppression, flexible metasurface, polyimide substrate, pseudorandom sequences, polarization insensitivity, conformal metasurface, broadband scattering

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