Q-par Develops An Improved Anisotropic Material Analysis Tool
A linear to circular polarisation converter
The method provides a determination of reflection and transmission of plane waves through a medium consisting of multiple layers of bi-anisotropic materials and FSS (modelled as anisotropic impedance surfaces). The materials may feature arbitrary losses and dispersion.
When used in conjunction with additional software, e.g. from Computer Simulation Technology (CST), Q-par now offers a design route to: (a) determine what combination of anisotropic materials are needed for a particular task and (b) how to synthesise such material.
Current applications include:
- The design of high power polarisation converters over large bandwidths and large ranges of angles of incidence.
- The design of wide bandwidth, large angular range radar absorbent materials.
- The analysis of non-reciprocal layered materials comprising, for example, magnetically biased ferrites.
Dr Andrew Mackay - Q-par's Principal Scientist says, “Our bi-anisotropic analysis method makes a novel use of the Singular Value Decomposition algorithm and permits a stable and accurate analysis in the presence of high losses and/or mode-reducing structures such as polarising grids. The method can safely be embedded within an optimiser for designing high performance devices."
Dr. Mackay continues, “Our technical report, which is free to download from our website, provides all the necessary formulation details to permit an electrical engineer to write their own software. Alternatively, Q-par also accepts design work using this software and as a result is well placed to analyse structures or devices where it is believed anisotropic materials could provide significant performance advantages. The application of meta-materials to RF design is a rapidly growing area and Q-par believes its software provides a novel and timely addition to the tools currently available.”
EXAMPLE
A linear to circular polarisation converter made from three layers of anisotropic dielectric (image above), total thickness 50mm. Prediction showing co-polar and cross-polar transmission coefficients and axial ratio between 5 and 25 GHz at normal incidence.
