Stealth-Communication Switching via A Resistive Metasurface with Dynamically Reconfigurable Transmission Window
Abstract
The advancement of stealth technology urgently demands electromagnetic (EM) functional materials that can dynamically adapt to complex operational environments. While reconfigurable metasurfaces have enabled dynamic wavefront manipulation, achieving simultaneous and independent broadband absorption and high-efficiency transmission within a single, actively tunable platform remains a significant challenge. In this paper, we propose a novel actively tunable metasurface that overcomes this limitation by demonstrating dynamic switching between a transparent “communication window” and a reflective “stealth mode” within the same frequency band, while maintaining exceptional out-of-band absorption across two broad bands. The design integrates an upper impedance layer with a resistive-film-loaded Jerusalem cross structure to achieve optimal absorption performance, while simultaneously incorporating PIN diodes into the lower multilayer frequency-selective surface to enable dynamic switching functionality. Experimental results demonstrate exceptional performance: over 90% transmission in the ON state with low insertion loss (<2 dB), and less than 10% transmission in the OFF state within the operational band. Simultaneously, the structure maintains greater than 90% absorption across two broad bands (3.4-6.2 GHz and 9.1-15.2 GHz) in both states. This work provides a paradigm-shifting solution for next-generation intelligent stealth platforms, promising applications in radar systems, communication windows for stealth vehicles, and electromagnetic compatibility.