Reprogrammable reflection-transmission integrated coding metasurface for real-time terahertz wavefront manipulations in full-space

Abstract

Abstract In recent years, there has been notable advancement in programmable metasurfaces, primarily attributed to their cost-effectiveness and capacity to manipulate electromagnetic (EM) waves. Nevertheless, a significant limitation of numerous available metasurfaces is their capability to influence wavefronts only in reflection mode or transmission mode, thus catering to only half of the spatial coverage. To the best of our knowledge and for the first time, a novel graphene-assisted reprogrammable metasurface that offers the unprecedented capability to independently and concurrently manipulate EM waves within both half-spaces has been introduced in the THz frequency band. This intelligent programmable metasurface achieves wavefront control in reflection mode, transmission mode, and the concurrent reflection-transmission mode, all within the same polarization and frequency channel. The meta-atom is constructed with two graphene sections, enabling straightforward modification of wave behavior by adjusting the chemical potential distribution within each graphene segment via an external electronic source. The proposed functionalities encompass various programmable modes, including single and dual beam control in reflection mode, dual beam control in transmission mode, simultaneous control of dual beams in reflection mode-direct transmission, and vice versa, and control of beam steering in reflection mode-dual beams in transmission mode simultaneously. The proposed metasurface is expected to be reprogrammable due to wavefront manipulation in both half-spaces separately and continuously for various applications such as imaging systems, encryption, miniaturized systems, and next-generation wireless intelligent communications.