Reconfigurable Liquid Crystal Antenna for Vortex Microwave Photon Modulation: A Non-Contact Feeding Approach for Enhanced Wireless Communication

Quantum vortex electromagnetic waves, also known as vortex microwave photons, introduce the new dimension for wireless communications.Quantum vortex electromagnetic waves have been experimentally validated through mode-keyed transmission, with their generation currently achieved using cyclotrons. However, achieving phase modulation with vortex photons remains challenging due to limitations from resonant cavity structures and the interference of traditional antennas. In particular, metal-patch-based antennas block the propagation of quantum vortex waves, destroying the intrinsic orbital angular momentum (OAM) and impeding efficient transmission. In this paper, the reconfigurable transmissive antenna based on liquid crystal (LC) technology is given, which avoids the interference from metal patches and overcomes the phase adjustment limitations of thermal-tuning LC lenses. The proposed antenna leverages a non-contact feeding module to dynamically adjust the LC’s permittivity, which enables the phase modulation of vortex microwave photons. This innovative approach enhances the adaptability of the antenna for future wireless communications. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the design, the experiments that validate the antenna’s capability to achieve phase modulation is performed. The result paves the way for future reconfigurable antenna technologies for vortex microwave photons transmission with intrinsic OAM mode multiplexing.