A newly developed, low-cost, and easily manufactured device could enhance satellite communication, high-speed data transmission, and remote sensing capabilities, scientists reveal.
A team of engineers from the University of Glasgow has designed an ultrathin 2D surface. This surface uses the unique properties of metamaterials to manipulate and convert radio waves across satellite frequencies. This innovation may greatly improve the efficiency of future 6G satellite networks.
What are Metamaterials?
Engineers design metamaterials as artificially structured materials with properties that do not naturally exist in substances. The Glasgow team presented their metamaterial in a paper published inCommunications Engineering. It converts linearly polarized electromagnetic waves into circular polarization. This improves satellite communication by reducing signal degradation and minimizing atmospheric interference.
Enhancing Satellite Communication
Traditional communication antennas transmit and receive waves oriented vertically or horizontally, known as linear polarization. Misalignment between antennas can cause signal loss and degradation. Additionally, atmospheric conditions like rain and ionospheric interference make communication more difficult.
By converting linear polarization to circular polarization, the metamaterial offers better reliability and performance. It resists signal degradation from polarization mismatch and atmospheric effects like rain. This ensures stable satellite connections, especially for mobile applications where precise antenna alignment is challenging. The material also doubles channel capacity by using both right-hand and left-hand circular polarizations. This creates more robust communication links in tough environments.
Breakthrough Technology
The metamaterial is just 0.64mm thick. It is made from tiny, geometrically patterned copper cells placed on a commercial circuit board. In lab tests, the material showed high performance even when radio signals hit it at angles of up to 45 degrees. This is crucial for space applications, where perfect alignment is difficult to achieve.
“The metamaterial surface works across a wide range of frequencies, including the Ku-, K-, and Ka-bands, which span from 12 GHz to 40 GHz,” said Professor Qammer H. Abbasi, the paper’s senior author. “This can help satellites provide better phone signals, more stable data transmission, and improve remote sensing, like tracking climate change or wildlife migration.”
Affordable and Scalable
One of the most promising aspects of the technology is its ability to be mass-produced affordably. Professor Muhammad Imran, co-author of the paper, highlighted the ease of manufacturing the material using conventional printed circuit board techniques. “This could lead to its widespread use as a key component in future satellite systems.”
Dr. Humayun Zubair Khan, the paper’s first author, added that this development outperforms previous technologies. It opens up new applications, especially in the space industry, where lightweight and compact materials are essential for reducing launch payloads.
With the ability to improve satellite communication, data transmission, and remote sensing, this 2D metamaterial could be a significant advancement for 6G networks and beyond.