Reconfigurable Sum and Difference Beams Based on a Binary Programmable Metasurface

Sum and difference beams are two kinds of field patterns, which have been commonly used in monopulse radar systems for detecting and tracking targets. This letter proposes to synthesize sum and difference beams based on a binary programmable metasurface (BPM). Moreover, the sum and difference beams can be steered by reprogramming digital coding schemes of the BPM. A prototype of the BPM is designed and tested at the Ka-band. Both simulations and experiments validate the presented functions of beam shaping and beam steering.