High Power Metasurface Reflectarray Antennas Using Switched Shorted Circular Elements

Abstract

A metamaterial design that can rapidly reconfigure its reflection phase angle and safely operate under high incident field strengths is presented for use in a high power microwave (HPM) reflectarray system. The design offers switching between reflection phase angles to allow for beam control with a stationary reflector and feed horn. Two variations of the design are presented which offer (a) fixed (but selectable) reflection phases with high-power operation and (b) on-the-fly reconfigurable reflection phases with low-power operation. For design (b), reconfiguration is easily and quickly accomplished though simple relay-style switching operation. The designs are developmental steps towards a fully on-the-fly reconfigurable reflectarray which can operate with several megawatts of peak input power. Fabrication and testing of the prototype antennas and metasurfaces were carried out and presented.