Wideband Multifunctional Reflective Linear and Circular Polarization Converter

Abstract

A wideband linear-to-orthogonal and linear-to-circular polarization converter functioning in reflection mode is described using orthotropic structure printed on ultrathin single substrate layer (thickness of 0.079λo, where λo corresponds to wavelength at center frequency of lowest operational bandwidth). The unit cell of this structure comprises a 45° rotated split-ring and cut strip in the middle. The proposed polarization converter can efficiently transform an incident wave with linear polarization to reflective cross polarization in the frequency bands: 7.63 - 12.21 GHz and 19.34 - 21.2 GHz. Furthermore, a reflected wave with circular polarization in the frequency band 13.85 - 18.50 GHz is also obtained. The behaviour of this converter for oblique angle incidences is evaluated. Furthermore, a prototype of the proposed polarization with 25 × 25 cells of the converter is fabricated and measured. Measurement results are in consensus with their simulated counterparts. This converter could be employed in X/Ku/K frequency band applications. © 2022 IEEE.