High-Gain Fabry-Perot Antenna With Reconfigurable Scattering Patterns Based on Varactor Diodes

In this article, a low radar cross section (RCS) and high-gain Fabry-Perot (F-P) antenna with reconfigurable scattering beams based on varactor diodes is proposed. The partially reflecting surface (PRS) of the proposed F-P antenna is composed of an anisotropic frequency-selective absorber (AFSA) and an active phase gradient metasurface (PGM) loaded with varactor diodes. The proposed AFSA can absorb the cross-polarized wave and make the co-polarized wave pass through. The in-band co-polarized scattering beams can be tuned continuously with stable radiation beams by changing the capacitance of the varactor diodes. Therefore, the proposed device can reduce the RCS for in-band co- and cross-polarized incident waves. Moreover, taking advantage of the path difference between the radiating and scattering waves, the gain enhancement and RCS reduction (RCSR) are realized simultaneously. Simulated results show that the scattering beam can be tuned dynamically from -40 degrees to 40 degrees with a maximum gain enhancement of 7.2 dB. The co-polarized in-band reconfigurable scattering beam and the stable gain enhancement are first implemented in a single antenna. A significant monostatic RCSR is obtained for the co- and cross-polarized wave in the frequency band of 5.5-7 GHz with a maximum reduction value of 20 dB. The experimental and simulated results are in good agreement.

Automated summary

This article introduces a low radar cross section (RCS) and high-gain Fabry-Perot (F-P) antenna with reconfigurable scattering beams based on varactor diodes, achieving signal modulation through changing the capacitance. Both experimental and simulated results show promising outcomes for the proposed antenna design.