Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

This research program proposes a new paradigm of electromagnetic (EM) M3 structures: Millimeter-wave (mmWave) Multi-scale Meta-structures, to achieve real-time dynamic reconfiguration of novel metasurface (MS) and leaky-wave antenna (LWA) structures. This proposal will address two open challenges in reconfigurable periodic structure designs: the high frequency scaling challenge to mmWaves and the expanding the operation bandwidth overcoming the intrinsic narrow bandwidths of passive subwavelength resonators. The current approaches of achieving real-time reconfigurability using off-the-shelf circuit elements is practically unscalable to mmWave frequencies due to performance and cost constraints, as typical MS structures employ hundreds and thousands of unit cells. To address this cost and performance challenge, we propose to design these structures using monolithic processes where custom circuit elements are co-designed using exotic and advanced EM materials with the larger scale resonator array. Variety of exotic materials such as graphene and tunable dielectric materials will be explored in this research to exploit their electronically tunable properties inside periodic structures. These resulting structures are intrinsically multi-scale in nature, with the resonator arrays at the structural scale, subwavelength resonators at the unit cell scale, co-designed elements for device reconfigurability at the circuit scale, and the capability to electromagnetically tune the structure, at the material scale. This approach will thus feature, hybrid optical microwave/mmWave concepts geared towards achieving dynamic response and real-time reconfigurability, using advanced EM materials with device operations in various strategic bands in mmWaves and Sub-THz ranges. To achieve these goals, we will develop novel methods and techniques targeting sensor integrated autonomous EM MSs with non-Foster circuit elements, smart, broadband LWAs and combined co-operative antenna and MS systems. In addition, we will also develop variety of numerical tools for efficient analysis and synthesis of practical MS structures incorporating temporal and spatial dispersions. These M3 structures will be targeted towards 5G radio environments where they will act as smart scatterers to improve wireless coverage in typical radio environments, in addition as being camouflaging devices for effective countermeasures in defense applications. The proposed project will thus help provide high-speed data connectivity based on 5G mmWave technology to the urban populations, in addition to providing backbone communication infrastructure for rural and remote communities, thus help closing the digital divide in Canada. This will therefore strengthen the Canadian wireless industry for improved digital connectivity, provide critical technological know-how in metamaterial sciences and impart effective defense solutions to protect our borders with novel countermeasure technologies.