Ultra-Broadband and Multi-Polarized Electrically Reconfigurable Reflectarray Antenna

In this article, a general strategy for designing ultra-broadband and multi-polarized electrically reconfigurable reflectarray antennas is proposed. The realization of ultra-broadband reconfigurable 1-bit phases and nearly uniform reflection magnitudes results from applying the mirror-symmetry principle and sub-wavelength mechanism, respectively. Numerical simulations reveal that the proposed element operates within an impressive bandwidth-spanning 6.7 GHz to 10.6 GHz, boasting a fractional bandwidth of 45.1%, featuring stable 1-bit phase manipulation and reflection loss of ≤1.0 dB throughout this frequency range. To validate the approach experimentally, a reconfigurable reflectarray antenna array consisting of 16×16 elements has been designed, fabricated, and measured for dynamic beam scanning. The measurements confirm a robust beam manipulation bandwidth extending from 7.0 GHz to 11.0 GHz, encompassing a fractional bandwidth of 44.4% for wide-angle beam steering capability of up to 60°. Moreover, the ability to control circularly polarized electromagnetic waves has also been validated through theory deduction and simulation, demonstrating manipulation bandwidths ranging from 7.0 GHz to 10.5 GHz. This study offers fresh insights into the design of ultra-broadband and multi-polarized electrically reconfigurable reflectarray antennas and holds vast potential for diverse applications in next-generation high-speed wireless communication systems.