Experimental evaluation of 3D printed spiral phase plates for enabling an orbital angular momentum multiplexed radio system

• Main Authors: B. Allen, T. Pelham, Y. Wu, T. Drysdale, D. Isakov, C. Gamlath, C. J. Stevens, G. Hilton, M. A. Beach, P. S. Grant
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Royal Society 2019-12-01
• Series: Royal Society Open Science
• Subjects: wireless communications; orbital angular momentum multiplexing; spiral phase plates
• Online Access: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.191419

This paper evaluates the performance of three-dimensionally (3D) printed spiral phase plates (SPPs) for enabling an orbital angular momentum (OAM) multiplexed radio system. The design and realization of the SPPs by means of additive manufacturing exploiting a high-permittivity material is described. Modes 1 and 2 SPPs are then evaluated at 15 GHz in terms of 3D complex radiation pattern, mode purity and beam collimation by means of a 3D printed dielectric lens. The results with the lens yield a crosstalk of −8 dB for between modes 1 and −1, and −11.4 dB for between modes 2 and −2. We suggest a mode multiplexer architecture that is expected to further reduce the crosstalk for each mode. An additional loss of 4.2 dB is incurred with the SPPs inserted into the communication link, which is undesirable for obtaining reliable LTE-based communications. Thus, we suggest: using lower loss materials, seeking ways to reduce material interface reflections or alternative ways of OAM multiplexing to realize a viable OAM multiplexed radio system.