Novel Wideband Polarized-Energy Distributable Metasurface Based on Tri-State Reconfigurable Polarization Conversion Units

Modern polarimetric radar systems pose unprecedented challenges to stealth platforms through enhanced polarization-sensitive detection capabilities, necessitating advanced polarization-domain energy management solutions. To address this challenge, we propose a novel wideband polarization-energy distributable metasurface (WPDM) leveraging the novel tri-state reconfigurable polarization conversion (RPC) units. Each RPC unit integrates two anti-parallel PIN diodes, enabling three switchable operational states. When both diodes are off, it is in the co-polarized reflection state. When the two diodes are configured in left-on/right-off or left-off/right-on states, it operates in the cross-polarized conversion state, and the induced current in the RPC units is equivalent to a 90° physical rotation, realizing wideband 1-bit phase shift. The polarized-energy manipulation principle based on the tri-state RPC units is proposed to guide the WPDM in flexibly allocating backscattered energy across two orthogonal polarizations, through adjusting the ratio and arrangement of the tri-state units. For TE- and TM-polarized normal incident waves, a$20\times 20$-unit prototype validates the feasibility of the WPDM experimentally. It achieves wideband dynamic backscattering radar cross section (RCS) reduction control across a 7–13GHz. The modulated range in the co-polarization domain is exceeding 10dB, with a tuning range over 20dB in the cross-polarization domain by additional phase modulation, offering a practical pathway toward intelligent stealth platforms in complex electromagnetic (EM) environments.