High-Efficieny All-Metal Metasurface Antenna Design for Space Applications

The demand for medium and high-gain antennas in space exploration is steadily increasing, but traditional designs, like parabolic reflector antennas, do not always align with the objectives of low-profile and cost-effective designs. Metasurface (MTS) antennas present an innovative alternative, leveraging cylindrical surface waves and modulated boundary conditions for improved performance. However, dielectric substrates in harsh space environments can be problematic. An all-metal design is less susceptible to thermal fluctuations and radiation induced changes in dielectric properties. Previous research has introduced non-optimized metallic designs. This paper outlines the impedance boundary conditions and design considerations for fully metallic MTS antennas with high efficiency, comparing isotropic and anisotropic designs. The design process includes creating an impedance database and optimizing modulation parameters for enhanced efficiency.