Zigzag reflective multifunctional metamaterial absorber and polarization rotator with horizontal strip structure

In this paper, we design and investigate a zigzag reflective multifunctional metamaterial (ZRMM) made by folding a planar metamaterial with horizontal strip structure. It has better absorption and polarization conversion performance compared to planar structures, which can achieve multiple absorption, broad-band cross-polarization conversion, broad-band linear-to-circular and circular-to-linear polarization conversion at different frequencies. Simulation results show that the absorption of the proposed design at 4.48 GHz, 10.54 GHz and 21.02 GHz are 94.76%, 97.90% and 99.60%, respectively. In 14.43 GHz–20.32 GHz, cross-polarization conversion can be achieved well. Similarly, excellent linear-to-circular and circular-to-linear polarization conversion have been achieved at 10.98 GHz–13.96 GHz. This metamaterial can be used as an absorber and polarization rotator. It can be used for antennas to change the polarization of radiated waves, as a frequency selective surface, or to reduce the radar cross section. Our work has made illuminating explorations for the multifunctional integration of metamaterials. (paper)