Linear polarization to left/right-handed circular polarization conversion using ultrathin planar chiral metamaterials.

We propose ultrathin planar chiral metamaterials (CMs) based on square split rings (SSRs), which can change linearly polarized (LP) electromagnetic (EM) wave to circularly polarized (CP) EM wave at will. The EM resonant properties of the proposed CMs including magnitude, phase, retrieved electromagnetic parameters, and chirality are demonstrated. According to the polarization property of the proposed CMs, a CP patch antenna using the proposed CMs is constructed. Placing the proposed CMs in the presence of a conventional LP patch antenna, the antenna polarization mode can be changed from LP mode to CP mode. The antenna performances are investigated numerically and experimentally. A simple method for realizing CP antenna is provided using the present CMs. It can be expected that the proposed CP antenna can be used in electronic reconnaissance and jamming, mobile communication, and global position system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]