Hong Kong develops world's first antenna for ultra

The antenna adjusts how strong the waves are, their timing, frequency, direction, and even the way they vibrate, all at the same time. It's the first time anyone has made an antenna that can do all these things simultaneously, marking a significant breakthrough in this field.

The antenna is special because it can be used in advanced information systems, like the ones we might have in the future. It's great for handling a lot of data and keeping that data very safe. It can also transfer power wirelessly, meaning it can charge devices without physical connections.

The antenna controls the direction of electromagnetic radiation

One cool thing about this antenna is that it can control the direction of its signals, adding an extra layer of privacy and security. This makes it a good choice for communication systems where we want to ensure nobody can eavesdrop or secretly listen in on our conversations.

These technologies greatly extend the applications of the UMA in augmented reality, holography, integrated sensing and communications for 6G, quantum optics, and quantum information science.

"We hope that the universal metasurface antenna can work as a simplified information transmitter with low cost, high integration and low power consumption," said Professor Wu Gengbo, the paper's first author.

Although demonstrated in the microwave band, the UMA's concept can be expanded to terahertz frequencies using specific technologies, enabling applications in augmented reality, holography, integrated sensing and communications for 6G, quantum optics, and quantum information science, noted the researchers in their study.

The study was published in Nature Communications.