Design of a binary programmable transmitarray based on phase change material for beam steering applications in D-band

Abstract

Abstract This paper introduces the design of a reconfigurable transmitarray operating within the D-band frequency range (110–170 GHz). The transmitarray unit cell is composed of three metal layers and two quartz dielectric substrates. It achieves a 1-bit phase shift resolution through the alternating states of two innovative switches integrated into the active transmitting patch of the unit cell. To address the challenge of miniaturization in the D-band, compact switches compatible with the proposed unit cell dimensions are introduced. These switches are constructed using phase change materials (PCM) that change between amorphous and crystalline states when exposed to heat. The paper includes a full-wave simulation of the unit cell, demonstrating an insertion loss below 1.5 dB across a wide frequency band of 27%. Additionally, a 10 $$\times $$ × 10 elements transmitarray is synthesized using a numerical tool and its theoretical results are compared to full-wave electromagnetic simulations for validation purposes. The results indicate that by incorporating the proposed switches into the unit cell, the transmitarray achieves promising reconfiguration capabilities within the D-band. Moreover, the paper presents the architecture of a command line designed to bias the PCM switches. Notably, this command line represents a novel approach, as it enables individual biasing of each PCM switch using direct current (DC). The influence of these command lines on the transmitarray’s performance is thoroughly investigated. Although there is a compromise in the 1-dB gain bandwidth, the overall behavior of the transmitarray remains encouraging.