X-Band and Low-RCS Flexible Wideband Antenna Array Based on Metasurface

Abstract

Transparent metasurface-loaded flexible antenna for the X band. The dumbbell-shaped metasurface is a type of polarization conversion unit arranged in a checkerboard pattern. This structure achieves 10 dB linear polarization radar cross-section (RCS) reduction under vertical incidence within the 9.2 GHz to 21.2 GHz range. Attach it to a slotted antenna array powered by a 1-to-4 Wilkinson power divider. The antenna has good radiation characteristics within the bandwidth of the X band. This antenna design boasts a low profile (0.14<inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">${{\lambda }_0}$</tex-math></inline-formula>), flexibility, and interference resistance. In the 0°–90° central angle bending scenario, the structure maintains good RCS reduction and antenna radiation properties, while also effectively reducing electromagnetic waves at 0°–45° angle, making it highly suitable for wider applications such as detection radar, satellite communications, and medical equipment.