Active Huygens' Box: Metasurface-Enabled Arbitrary Electromagnetic Wave Generation Inside a Cavity

Abstract

This work investigates the generation of arbitrary electromagnetic waveforms inside a geometrical area enclosed by an active metasurface. We introduce the contraption of the Huygens' box, where a region of space is enclosed by an active Huygens' metasurface. We show that, upon generating the necessary electric and magnetic currents, we can create any desired electromagnetic field inside the Huygens' box. Using this method, we demonstrate through simulation and experiment the generation of travelling plane waves, a standing plane wave and a Bessel wave inside a metallic cavity. By linear superposition of these unconventional "modes", we experimentally demonstrate, for the first time, a subwavelength superoscillation focal spot formed without involving evanescent EM waves, and without an accompanying region of exorbitantly high waveform energy. The Huygens' box brings controlled waveform generation to an unprecedented level, with far-reaching implications to imaging, communication and medical therapy.