Rapid Design of 3D Reflectarray Antennas by Inverse Surrogate Modeling and Regularization

Reflectarrays (RAs) exhibit important advantages over conventional antenna arrays, especially in terms of realizing pencil-beam patterns without the employment feeding networks. Unfortunately, microstrip RA implementations feature narrow bandwidths, and are severely affected by losses. A considerably improved performance can be achieved for RAs involving grounded dielectric layers, which also easy to manufacture using 3D printing technology. Regardless implementation details, a practical bottleneck design is necessity independent adjustment large number unit cells, has carried out full-wave electromagnetic (EM) simulation models ensure reliability. The associated computational costs extraordinary. workaround incorporation surrogate modeling methods; however, construction accurate metamodel requires training data samples. This letter introduces an alternative approach, where cells adjusted inverse model established with small anchor points, pre-optimized reference reflection phases. To solution uniqueness, point optimization involves regularization, here, based on minimum-volume condition cell. presented approach reduces cost few dozens EM analyses Several demonstration examples provided, along experimental validation selected realization.