Improved Numerical Estimation Method for Surface Wave Attenuation on Metasurfaces

Abstract

Comprehensive numerical tools to investigate and analyze the surface wave attenuation on a metasurface waveguide that consists of periodic patches deposited on a dielectric substrate are presented. The surface wave attenuation is evaluated in both waveguide and open‐space environments at high frequencies around the 28‐GHz band. Two approaches including a driven modal approach and an integrated eigenmode approach for investigating the attenuation behaviors in a metasurface waveguide operating in transverse electromagnetic (TEM) mode are employed. These results show different attenuation values depending on the waveguide height due to an unavoidable coupling issue despite the same metasurface design. Thus, an alternative method for more accurately evaluating the frequency‐dependent attenuation characteristics through field distribution in open space with a customized horn antenna is proposed. A relationship between the surface wave attenuation and the propagation distance by analyzing the analytical electric field distribution at different points on the propagation path in the open space is established. Thus, this study provides an improved method for assessing surface wave attenuation characteristics, which contributes to designing surface wave control for wireless communications, wireless power transfer, signal processing, and electromagnetic compatibility.