Optically Transparent Microwave Wilkinson Power Divider With Heterogeneous Integration

Abstract

Transparent electromagnetic devices have received extensive attention in the development of large-aperture transparent antenna arrays for smart cities and optoelectronic co- aperture integrated wireless communication. As the key component of transparent antenna arrays, an optically transparent microwave power divider that requires conductive films with various sheet resistances for high transmission and low mutual coupling still remains challenges in practical realization. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a high-performance optically transparent eight-channel Wilkinson power divider by heterogeneously integrated low-loss metal mesh and high-loss indium tin oxide (ITO). Over the radio frequency band from 1.7 to 2.5 GHz (the center frequency is 2.1 GHz) and optical band from 380 to 760 nm, the isolation of the power divider is higher than 20 dB, the transparency is higher than 72%, and the transmission coefficient is around −9.6 to −10.7 dB. Our demonstration paves the way for future tunable transparent array antenna systems and optoelectronic co- aperture integrated multifunctional applications.