Frequency-multiplexed pure-phase microwave meta-holograms using bi-spectral 2-bit coding metasurfaces

In this paper, a dual-band reflective meta-hologram is designed providing two distinct information channels whose field intensity distributions can be independently manipulated at the same time. The proposed pure-phase meta-hologram is composed of several frequency-dispersive coding meta-atoms possessing each of 2-bit digital statuses of “00”, “01”, “10”, and “11” at either the lower (X-band) or the higher (Ku-band) frequency band. Relying on the weighted Gerchberg-Saxton phase retrieval algorithm, different illustrative examples have been provided to theoretically inspect the dual-band performance of our coding meta-hologram. Numerical simulations validate the proposed frequency multiplexing meta-holography with the ability to project two different high-quality images with low cross-talk on two X-band and Ku-band near-field channels located at distinct pre-determined distances from the metasurface plane. As proof of concept, two meta-hologram samples are fabricated, and the experimental results corroborate well the numerical simulations and theoretical predictions. The designed meta-hologram features all fascinating advantages of the coding metasurfaces while its performance overcomes that of previous studies due to providing two information channels rather than the conventional single-channel holography. The frequency multiplexing acquired by the proposed bi-spectral coding meta-hologram may provide great opportunities in a variety of applications, such as data storage and information processing.