Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PULSE (Plasma reconfigurable metasurface technologies)
Período documentado: 2023-03-01 hasta 2024-02-29
The widespread proliferation of wireless systems and the emergence of exciting new wireless technologies (such as 5G and beyond-5G communication systems) are rapidly expanding their application fields (Internet of Things, autonomous vehicles, Industry 4.0 Smart Environments and Cities, Factories of the Future, e-Health, etc.), offering novel economic opportunities and bringing benefits to the society. These emerging next-generation systems have stringent requirements with high demand for the integration of multiple standards and functionalities into a single platform. In addition, the ubiquitous and seamless connectivity scenario and the related technical constraints (e.g. ultra-high capacity and reliability, almost zero latency and jitter) introduce further design challenges to make these wireless systems able to interoperate in increasingly complex environments and ever more challenging requirements. Besides, secure communication technologies resilient to intentional sources of electromagnetic (EM) interference (e.g. jamming or spoofing systems) must be considered to achieve a robust system operation.
In this framework, EM reconfigurability represents a key enabling technology, as it allows changing in real time the functionalities and the signature of a device, allowing to use it for different purposes and to react promptly against external attacks or to be adapted to different environmental constraints or conditions. Unfortunately, the current technological paradigms enabling reconfigurability are not suitable for the next generation of communication systems, as they are affected by severe intrinsic technological limitations in terms of maximum operation frequency, tunability speed and depth, and integration complexity.
The project PULSE pursues the ambitious goal of defining a new technological horizon for implementing reconfigurable EM devices by unifying the research domains of metasurfaces (MTS) with the plasma physics. The fundamental idea is to develop plasma discharge tunable metallic and dielectric metadevices showing unprecedented tunability performance at high frequency ranges. Plasma-based metadevices represent a radically new technological platform, with an incredible potential in terms of impact to our society and specifically on the next-generation telecommunication and wireless connectivity markets.
In this framework, EM reconfigurability represents a key enabling technology, as it allows changing in real time the functionalities and the signature of a device, allowing to use it for different purposes and to react promptly against external attacks or to be adapted to different environmental constraints or conditions. Unfortunately, the current technological paradigms enabling reconfigurability are not suitable for the next generation of communication systems, as they are affected by severe intrinsic technological limitations in terms of maximum operation frequency, tunability speed and depth, and integration complexity.
The project PULSE pursues the ambitious goal of defining a new technological horizon for implementing reconfigurable EM devices by unifying the research domains of metasurfaces (MTS) with the plasma physics. The fundamental idea is to develop plasma discharge tunable metallic and dielectric metadevices showing unprecedented tunability performance at high frequency ranges. Plasma-based metadevices represent a radically new technological platform, with an incredible potential in terms of impact to our society and specifically on the next-generation telecommunication and wireless connectivity markets.
Throughout the inaugural year, the Consortium delved into various research and technological avenues, making significant progress towards the goals of the PULSE project. From a modelling viewpoint, the Consortium explored the integration of different plasma elements into metasurface designs, aiming to overcome the limitations of traditional metallic or dielectric counterparts. For example, in the context of reconfigurable lens design for antenna systems, the efficacy of plasma scatterers as foundational elements for multipolar gradient metasurfaces was demonstrated, facilitating anomalous refraction of electromagnetic waves. These structures are adaptable across different frequency ranges relevant for future wireless systems, promising enhanced tunability compared to conventional dielectric or metallic solutions. In addition, in the context of non-reciprocal electromagnetic devices, the integration of plasma elements into more complex structures, such as a wire medium, was investigated, showcasing its potential as a low-latency switch capable of periodic transitioning between distinct artificial media with significantly differing effective material properties. A concept for a magnetless microwave waveguide isolator based on this principle has also been proposed.
On the experimental front, the Consortium explored diverse manufacturing and ignition techniques for plasma-based elements. One approach focused on cylindrical plasma discharges, offering control over length and ignitable via either AC or DC power supply. Another method involved laser ablation to sculpt cavities of desired shape and size within a dielectric matrix, subsequently filled with a designated gas, sealed to prevent leakage, and ignited using AC power supply. Additionally, ongoing efforts are directed towards developing self-consistent models of plasma within the envisaged geometries.
Leveraging the theoretical, numerical, and experimental insights garnered in the initial phase, the Consortium is currently focused on optimising and realising the designed devices to fulfil the project's objectives.
On the experimental front, the Consortium explored diverse manufacturing and ignition techniques for plasma-based elements. One approach focused on cylindrical plasma discharges, offering control over length and ignitable via either AC or DC power supply. Another method involved laser ablation to sculpt cavities of desired shape and size within a dielectric matrix, subsequently filled with a designated gas, sealed to prevent leakage, and ignited using AC power supply. Additionally, ongoing efforts are directed towards developing self-consistent models of plasma within the envisaged geometries.
Leveraging the theoretical, numerical, and experimental insights garnered in the initial phase, the Consortium is currently focused on optimising and realising the designed devices to fulfil the project's objectives.
The findings from the inaugural year of the project affirm the wide, yet largely unexplored, potential of plasma - especially if arranged in microplasma arrays or synergistically combined with artificial materials - in enhancing the performance and reconfigurability of electromagnetic components. Unlike the results available in the state of the art, that merely employ plasma as a basic material with elementary electromagnetic properties, the PULSE project is showing how to leverage on its entire electrodynamics to unlock advanced features in modern applications. These results open a pathway to achieve unprecedented reconfigurability features in wireless systems.
Further research is needed to experimentally validate the technology.
Further research is needed to experimentally validate the technology.