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Metasurface Tape for Efficient Millimeter-Wave Power Transfer via Surface-Wave Propagation

Phuc Toan Dang, Kota Suzuki, Yoshiki Ashikaga, Yasushi Tsuchiya, Sendy Phang, Hiroki Wakatsuchi

Abstract

Millimeter-wave technologies are essential for future high-speed wireless communications. However, a fundamental challenge remains in the form of severe free-space path loss, where the power density decreases inversely with the square of the distance r (i.e., proportional to r^{-2}) as a spherical dependence. To overcome this limitation, we propose a flexible metasurface tape that is designed to guide electromagnetic energy as surface waves. Unlike conventional free-space propagation, this engineered metasurface confines the field to a subwavelength interface, thereby altering the power decay law to a circular dependence (i.e., proportional to r^{-1}). We numerically and experimentally, for the first time, demonstrate this concept using a periodic grounded-patch array fabricated on a flexible substrate and operated at approximately 100 GHz. The measurement results show that the metasurface tape significantly increases the transmitted power, yielding an average rate of improvement of approximately 40 per meter in received power relative to the free-space baseline in our measurement geometry (e.g., 29-dB increase at 2 m). This increase is realized over a broad bandwidth from 95 GHz to 105 GHz (i.e., approximately 10 %), accommodating wideband modulation schemes required for high-data-rate applications. The flexible, lightweight nature of the tape allows it to be easily installed on diverse surfaces. Our demonstration indicates that the metasurface tape is a promising platform for extending the effective range of millimeter-wave systems, thus offering a robust solution to the path-loss bottleneck in next-generation wireless networks.

Metasurface Tape for Efficient Millimeter-Wave Power Transfer via Surface-Wave Propagation

Abstract

Millimeter-wave technologies are essential for future high-speed wireless communications. However, a fundamental challenge remains in the form of severe free-space path loss, where the power density decreases inversely with the square of the distance r (i.e., proportional to r^{-2}) as a spherical dependence. To overcome this limitation, we propose a flexible metasurface tape that is designed to guide electromagnetic energy as surface waves. Unlike conventional free-space propagation, this engineered metasurface confines the field to a subwavelength interface, thereby altering the power decay law to a circular dependence (i.e., proportional to r^{-1}). We numerically and experimentally, for the first time, demonstrate this concept using a periodic grounded-patch array fabricated on a flexible substrate and operated at approximately 100 GHz. The measurement results show that the metasurface tape significantly increases the transmitted power, yielding an average rate of improvement of approximately 40 per meter in received power relative to the free-space baseline in our measurement geometry (e.g., 29-dB increase at 2 m). This increase is realized over a broad bandwidth from 95 GHz to 105 GHz (i.e., approximately 10 %), accommodating wideband modulation schemes required for high-data-rate applications. The flexible, lightweight nature of the tape allows it to be easily installed on diverse surfaces. Our demonstration indicates that the metasurface tape is a promising platform for extending the effective range of millimeter-wave systems, thus offering a robust solution to the path-loss bottleneck in next-generation wireless networks.
Paper Structure (3 sections, 1 equation, 10 figures)

This paper contains 3 sections, 1 equation, 10 figures.

Table of Contents

  1. AUTHOR DECLARATIONS Conflict of Interest
  2. DATA AVAILABILITY
  3. REFERENCES

Figures (10)

  • Figure 1: Energy spreading. (a) Conventional free-space propagation approach. (b) Proposed surface-wave propagation approach.
  • Figure 2: Design of the MS tape via numerical simulations. (a) Design of the periodic unit cell. (b) Dispersion diagram. (c) Full-wave simulation model. (d) Normalized $E$ field ($\hat{E}$) as a function of the propagation distance at 100 GHz. (e) Simulated field distributions with (top) and without (bottom) the MS.
  • Figure 3: Experimental demonstration. (a) Measurement setup. The Rx position was changed along the MS tape. (b) Prototype of the MS tape. (c) Measured power profiles at 100 GHz and corresponding simulation results.
  • Figure 4: Experimentally observed 2D power distributions at various frequencies. Results are shown at (a, b) 95 GHz, (c, d) 100 GHz, (e, f) 105 GHz, and (g, h) 110 GHz (a, c, e, g) without and (b, d, f, h) with the MS tape.
  • Figure 5: Improvement factor $G$ in millimeter-wave power transfer. Results are shown at (a) 95 GHz, (b) 100 GHz, (c) 105 GHz, and (d) 110 GHz. The coefficients of determination of the linear fitting lines are represented by $R^2$. The fitting lines are obtained between 90 mm and 220 mm.
  • ...and 5 more figures