Collective-Coupling Enhanced Ultrabroadband Linear Polarization Conversion on Zigzag-Split Metasurfaces

Polarization manipulation plays a pivotal role in integrated multifunctional devices. Various metasurface-based polarization converters successfully demonstrated high efficiency and broad bandwidth. However, new mechanisms to aggressively enhance performance are still in dire need. Here, theoretical and experimental evidence corroborates an efficient ultrawideband transmissive polarization converter based on a topological design method. The triple-layer meta-device consists of a layer of anisotropic zigzag-split resonator array amid two orthogonal wire-grating layers. By splitting double zigzag lines into compound 90° V-shaped resonators, the intraunit cross coupling extends to strong interunit cross coupling, giving birth to the multiresonance enhancement and significant bandwidth broadening. This polarization converter can efficiently convert linearly polarized incident waves into 90° cross-polarized transmitted waves, with a conversion efficiency above 80% over 3.98–22.71 GHz, reaching a fractional bandwidth of 140.4%. The proposed meta-device enables strong cross coupling in mutual transition from intraunit to interunit. From a physical viewpoint, the novel mechanism is elucidated by the surface current and electric field distributions upon constructive interferences stemming from V-shape-resonator combinations and the Fabry–Pérot-like cavity effect. With both spectrum and function extensions, the proposed polarization conversion strategy finds essential applications in polarization-related systematic scenarios, such as 6G communication, radar imaging, anti-interference, and chiral sensing.