Suspended Metasurface for Broadband High-Efficiency Vortex Beam Generation

Electromagnetic (EM) waves carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) exhibit phase vortex and amplitude singularity. Broadband OAM generation with high efficiency is highly desired with suggested applications such as broadband imaging and communications. In this paper, suspended metasurface structure achieving low-Q factor is proposed to realize broadband phase control and excellent reflection efficiency. Broadband vortex beam generation with OAM order of 1 and 2 are realized using the proposed suspended structure. Furthermore, by analyzing different metasurface aperture phase distribution schemes, the efficiency of the OAM generator is maximally achieved. The designs are validated by simulation and measurement. The proposed OAM generators work across 4–10 GHz with efficiency higher than 82%. This design provides a route to broadband metasurface realization and high efficiency OAM generation.