High Isolation and Low Cross-Polarization of Low-Profile Dual-Polarized Antennas via Metasurface Mode Optimization

A low-profile dual-polarized metasurface antenna with high isolation and low cross-polarization is proposed in this communication. The proposed metasurface consists of an array of 4 x 4 patches. Through characteristic mode analysis (CMA), a pair of degenerate modes is identified to achieve the desired radiation features. By modifying the patches of the metasurface, the strongest mode current distributions of the two modes are moved from the center to the edge of the metasurface. One feed port can efficiently excite only one particular mode, and the other mode cannot be excited simultaneously. Each of the modes are differentially fed using two Y-shaped microstrip lines via two slots. As a result, both high isolation and low cross-polarization can be obtained. The simulation and experimental results show that the proposed antenna achieves not only a low profile of 0.05 lambda(0) (where lambda(0) is the free-space wavelength at the center resonant frequency) but also a broad impedance bandwidth of 36% and a high isolation of 53 dB. In particular, the enhanced cross-polarization discrimination (XPD) is lower than -40 dB at the broadside, lower than -33 dB within +/- 30 degrees of the main lobe, and lower than -28 dB within +/- 60 degrees of the main lobe.