Breaking Periodicity with Morphogenetic Metasurfaces

This paper investigates morphogenetic metasurfaces, focusing on their design methodology, electromagnetic characterization, and beam steering capabilities. Conventional metasurfaces rely on local periodicity, restricting spatial frequency synthesis and distorting impedance modulation. In contrast, we evaluate the efficiency of a novel design strategy: a morphogenetic model inspired by the structuring mechanisms of living organisms, autonomously generating quasi-disordered structures that break local periodicity while preserving shape control. By disrupting periodic interactions, this approach enables precise control over impedance tensor eigenvalues and eigenvector orientations, overcoming the limitations of periodic-grid arrangements where the rotation of elements directly affects inter-element spacing and orientation-dependent responses. Unit cell responses are characterized across orientations and scaled up to full metasurface designs. Key electromagnetic parameters, including impedance modulation depth, surface reactance, and anisotropy, are extracted via field and spectral analysis and validated through a dedicated mathematical model. Comparative results against conventional metasurfaces clearly highlight the benefits of morphogenetic synthesis, notably enhanced impedance stability, improved macroscopic control of impedance profiles, and more efficient beam steering performance at equivalent modulation levels.