Scientists Strengthen Radio Signal, City Walls to Spoke in Metabolism

Communication in urban conditions is a difficult task. Radio signals must overcome obstacles in the form of walls, buildings and other structures, which leads to their dispersion and reduction of throughput. A group of scientists from the Laboratory of Applied Physics Johns Applied Physics Laboratory, APL) developed Technology, which turns over the ideas about data transmission in places of a large accumulation of devices.

Researchers embodied the concept of metaps – these are special structures that can reflect, redirect and modulate electromagnetic signals to enhance throughput. Previously, the use of such surfaces was limited by the disadvantages of the material: the loss of the signal and the need to use resonant components in the design. APL technology overcomes these restrictions and enhances reflective properties.

“Development will find application in areas such as advanced communications, new low-energy sensors and work in the most difficult conditions,” Jeff Maranchi, the head of the research program, emphasized.

The key feature of the structures is the possibility of separate control of the size (strength) and phase (position in time) of the electromagnetic wave.

“When the signal passes through the metaps, it interacts with each of the layers at the entrance and at the exit. These interactions are very complicated. Each layer, in fact, ‘communicates’ with the rest, they all know about each other. The layers interact, creating the desired effect,” explained Tim Slyisman, the leading author of the study.

The signal control system consists of a set of patio-shaped elements that regulate handles, varicap diodes and resistors. The dynamic cascading metap-output balances the size and phase. And all this fits on a small, inexpensive printed circuit board.

The new scheme solves the problem of uneven loss of radio waves characteristic of classical structures and includes several resonant materials.

The possibilities of the invention are not limited only to telecommunications. “Although our work was concentrated on the use in the radio frequency range, the concepts and methods presented by us are in a wide range of electromagnetic spectrum,” said David Schrequenhamer, the head of the physics program, electronic materials and devices in APL.

So, the development will be useful for creating more compact and light sensors that consume at least energy. Slyisman gave an example: “You may have a sensor on a buoy in