Amplifying Amplitude‐Phase Programmable Metasurface for Flexible Manipulation of Harmonic Beams

Abstract Amplitude‐phase programmable metasurfaces (APPMs) have attracted significant attention in recent years for their real‐time control of electromagnetic (EM) waves. However, existing APPMs often face challenges such as low energy efficiency, limited amplitude‐tuning range, and low phase‐modulation resolution. Additionally, achieving high‐precision amplitude and phase modulations simultaneously requires complex control circuits, thereby increasing the system cost and complexity. To address these challenges, an amplifying APPM (AAPPM) is proposed that achieves independent wide‐range amplitude tuning and high‐precision phase control through a novel and simplified architecture. Specifically, the designed AAPPM is embedded with gain‐tunable amplifiers, achieving over 5 dB EM‐energy amplification and ≈30 dB dynamic amplitude‐tuning range. Meanwhile, the AAPPM provides the 1‐bit phase modulations by controlling the states of integrated PIN diodes. With the introduction of time‐coding techniques, it can further achieve wide‐range and high‐precision phase controls of harmonics. To demonstrate its capability, a 6×6 AAPPM prototype is designed, simulated, and measured. The results indicate that AAPPM can achieve EM energy amplification, wide‐range dynamic amplitude control, and high‐precision phase modulation. By implementing various time‐coding strategies, the AAPPM facilitates flexible harmonic beam manipulations. With these distinctive features, the AAPPM shows great potential in wireless communication and radar systems.