Experimental Parameter Estimation for Dynamic Metasurface Antenna
Analysis
This paper addresses the challenge of creating accurate forward models for dynamic metasurface antennas (DMAs). Traditional simulation methods are often impractical due to the complexity and fabrication imperfections of DMAs, especially those with strong mutual coupling. The authors propose and demonstrate an experimental approach using multiport network theory (MNT) to estimate a proxy model. This is a significant contribution because it offers a practical solution for characterizing and controlling DMAs, which are crucial for reconfigurable antenna applications. The paper highlights the importance of experimental validation and the impact of mutual coupling on model accuracy.
Key Takeaways
- •Experimental parameter estimation is a viable approach for modeling DMAs, especially when simulations are impractical.
- •Multiport network theory (MNT) effectively captures mutual coupling effects in DMAs.
- •The proposed proxy MNT model achieves high accuracy in predicting reflected and radiated fields.
- •The study highlights the importance of considering the number of feeds and DMA configurations for optimal model accuracy.
- •Auxiliary calibration feeds can improve parameter estimation when the DMA is primarily used with a single feed.
“The proxy MNT model predicts the reflected field at the feeds and the radiated field with accuracies of 40.3 dB and 37.7 dB, respectively, significantly outperforming a simpler benchmark model.”