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A Three-Dimensional Linear-to-Circular Polarization Converter Tailored by the Gravity Field

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Abstract

In this paper, a three-dimensional (3D) linear-to-circular polarization converter (LCPC), innovatively tailored by the gravity field through the fluidity of liquid metal mercury (Hg), is designed and studied. The proposed LCPC is composed of a 3D glass cavity filled with Hg, a copper reflector, a trenched dielectric layer, and a copper patch. Due to the specially designed 3D glass cavity, Hg will flow in different parts of the glass cavity to form different resonant structures by means of rotation under the action of the gravity field. When the proposed LCPC is not rotated (is placed parallel to the xoy plane), the axial ratio band which is less than 3 dB (3-dB AR band) is obtained in the band of 32.42–42.82 GHz (the relative bandwidth is 27.64%). And when such a LCPC is rotated (is placed perpendicular to the xoy plane), the 3-dB AR band shifts to 18.88–32.86 GHz (the relative bandwidth is 54.04%). Besides, the surface current diagrams are investigated to explain the physics mechanism of the proposed LCPC, and relevant parameters are also discussed. In our design, the proposed LCPC has the advantages of wideband, tunable characteristics, and easy adjustment. In addition, it provides an innovative design idea of LCPC to promote potential applications of tunable devices.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Open Research Program in China’s State Key Laboratory of Millimeter Waves (Grant No. K201927).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Microelectronics, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, China

    Li Zeng, Hai-Feng Zhang, Guo-Biao Liu & Tong Huang

  2. National Electronic Science and Technology Experimental Teaching Demonstrating Center, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, China

    Hai-Feng Zhang

  3. National Information and Electronic Technology Virtual Simulation Experiment Teaching Center, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, China

    Hai-Feng Zhang

  4. Key Laboratory of Radar Imaging and Microwave Photonics (Nanjing Univ. Aeronaut. Astronaut.), Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 210016, China

    Hai-Feng Zhang

  5. State Key Laboratory of Millimeter Waves of Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China

    Hai-Feng Zhang

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  1. Li Zeng
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  2. Hai-Feng Zhang
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  3. Guo-Biao Liu
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  4. Tong Huang
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Correspondence to Hai-Feng Zhang.

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Zeng, L., Zhang, HF., Liu, GB. et al. A Three-Dimensional Linear-to-Circular Polarization Converter Tailored by the Gravity Field. Plasmonics 14, 1347–1355 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11468-019-00930-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11468-019-00930-z

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