Extending power-handling of high-power metamaterial phase-shifters using three-dimensional counter-rotated end-loaded dipoles

Through the careful consideration of field enhancement observed in individual unit cells, metamaterials can be designed for use in high power microwave (HPM) applications. However, power handling considerations are only one aspect of any metamaterial design's performance. Presented here are two metamaterial unit cell geometries which feature reconfigurable reflection phase behaviors intended for HPM reflectarray applications. The unit cells are comprised of two end-loaded dipoles (ELD) which are counter-rotated to eliminate cross-pol while achieving the desired reflection phase angle. It is shown that by extending a planar ELD to a volumetric (i.e., three-dimensional) design, the observed field enhancement can be drastically reduced thus providing a path for improved power-handling performance.