Analysis of Frequency-Diverse and Dispersion Effects in Dynamic Metasurface Antenna for Holographic Sensing and Imaging

Abstract

Dynamic metasurface antennas (DMAs) represent a novel approach to programmable and affordable electromagnetic wave manipulation for enhanced wireless communications, sensing, and imaging applications. Nevertheless, current DMA designs and models are usually quasi-narrowband, neglecting the versatile frequency-diverse manifestation and its utilization. This work demonstrates the frequency-diversity and dispersion operations of a representative DMA structure at the millimeter-wave band. We demonstrate flexible dispersion manipulation through dynamic holographic reconfigurability of the meta-atoms in a DMA. This effect can create distinct radiation patterns across the operating frequency band, achieving flexible frequency diversity with enhanced scanning range within a compact, reconfigurable platform. It eliminates the need for wideband systems or complex phase-shifting networks while offering an alternative to frequency-scanned static beams of traditional leaky-wave antennas. The results establish fundamental insights into modelling and utilization of dispersive effects of DMAs in next-generation near-field and far-field holographic sensing and computational holographic imaging applications.