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.
