High-power metamaterial phase shifter using a relay-based approach

A metamaterial design that can rapidly reconfigure its reflection phase angle and safely operate under high incident field strengths is presented for use in a high power microwave (HPM) reflectarray system. The design offers switching between three sufficiently unique reflection phase angles to allow for beam control with a stationary reflector and feed horn. The metamaterial unit cell is fairly lightweight and rigid, making it mechanically appealing. Phase reconfiguration is easily accomplished though simple relay coil operation, allowing for increased isolation between high power radio frequency (RF) energy and the electronic beam control architecture compared to traditional semiconductor biasing techniques.