Next Generation metasurfaces: tensorial surfaces for novel antenna functionality

It is the focus of this project to design, model, fabricate and characterise 2D metasurfaces that demonstrate a tensorial surface impedance. When combined with appropriate antenna designs, the findings will support future civil applications like the internet of things, high frequency imaging systems for screening, scanners and tomography systems for medical diagnostics and wireless measurement and smart meter systems.
Propagation of energy along scalar impedance surfaces for the purpose of guiding and radiating electromagnetic waves has been studied for some time. Both 1-D and 2-D artificial impedance surfaces have been explored to control guided waves and leaky-wave radiation.
This project is centred around an exploration of coupling antenna eignenmodes to inhomogeneous and tensorial impedance surfaces. These metasurfaces can be those of the printed-circuit-board-type, or the surface of 'bulk' metamaterials or magnetic composites. Initially we will work to understand the extent of the parameter space (in terms of the boundary conditions) that can be explored. The next step is then to place a simple dipole source close to these surfaces to understand how they can influence the source's radiation characteristics. In turn, we will consider how the efficiency, functionality or directivity of more complex antenna can be improved, as well as reduction of size or thickness, and the polarisation of the radiated beam. A resulting structure that is lightweight, potentially conformal, and with compact volume, is particularly valuable to aerospace and space applications.