Ku-band Radar Cross-section Reduction using Low Profile Planar Checkerboard Metasurface

A novel planar broadband metasurface using the unique reflection phase properties of two different artificial magnetic conductors (AMC) to reduce the radar cross section (RCS) in Ku-band (12-18 GHz) is proposed in this paper. The first unit cell consists of square patch with a four-cut ring and second has crossed pick axe shape. The precise design of unit cells gives 180 degrees +/- 30 degrees phase difference for a wide bandwidth of 9.9-19.8 GHz (66%). These two unit cells have been arranged to create the checkerboard metasurface that provides 10dB RCS reduction for 10-18GHz (57%) compared to perfect electric conductor (PEC) surface by cancellation of scattered fields along the normal direction and redirecting the towards four quadrants. Bistatic RCS of the checkerboard surface has been simulated and compared with PEC surface at different elevation anglesfor broadside incidence.