Fundamental/harmonics beam control using 1-bit space time-modulated plasma DMA

Abstract This paper investigates a space-time modulated digital metamaterial array (DMA) based on reconfigurable plasma ionization. The DMA consists of 8 × unit-cell elements with total dimensions 120 3.2 mm 3 . Each ring container filled argon gas and is backed grounded dielectric substrate. ionized into state through metallic electrodes. logic the unit cell controlled via changing frequency, $${\omega }_{p}.$$ ω p . value }_{p}=6\times {10}^{11}\mathrm{ rad}/\mathrm{sec}$$ = 6 × 10 11 rad / sec represents “0”, }_{p}=8\times {10}^{11} \mathrm{rad}/\mathrm{sec}$$ 8 “bit 1”. periodic time switching ionization controls radiation at fundamental harmonic frequencies. on-time instants durations control number radiated beams, their directions, amplitudes, side-lobe levels. Different time-switching sequences are investigated for beam steering, dual-sum broadside end-fire multi-beams, fan-shaped beams wireless communications applications. was under different phase-modulation amplitude-modulation schemes. A full-wave simulation CST Microwave Studio simulator used to analyze proposed results compared ideal point sources excited same sequences.