Generalized Sequential Rotation Arrays With Full Control of Dual-Circularly-Polarized Aperture-Field Distribution Based on Elliptically-Polarized Elements

In this article, the theory, design, and experimental validation of wideband generalized sequential rotation arrays (GSRAs) are reported. In particular, the GSRA has the ability to provide dual-circularly polarized (dual-CP) beams with different handedness using a single feeding network, whose aperture amplitude and phase distributions can both be independently controlled. Such functionality is achieved by jointly utilizing the dynamic phase and Berry phase, as well as exploiting elliptically polarized (EP) array elements with different axial ratio (AR) values. The proposed technique and the design methodology are verified by two proof-of-concept microstrip GSRAs consisting of an 8×8 array of EP stacked-patch elements operating in the K-band. The first prototype exhibits a 3 dB gain difference between the two CP beams, while the other offers a 6 dB gain difference and different sidelobe levels (SLLs) for the generated dual-CP beams. Both arrays are fabricated and measured, experimentally achieving a joint S11 <-10 dB, AR < 3 dB, and 3 dB gain bandwidth of more than 28.4% and 20.1% with a beam squinting of less than 3°. In addition, the two GSRAs enable a bandwidth of about 19% and 3% within which the gain difference between the two CP beams of different handedness deviates from the targeted value by less than 1 dB. With the large degree of freedom in aperture field control, the proposed GSRAs could be potential candidates for use in satellite communications, point-to-multipoint communications, and so on.