Broad-band, wide-angle electromagnetic wave polarizers

The two most commonly used EM wave polarizers are the multilayer meander line for the transformation of linear into circular polarization, and the slant strip for tilting vertical into slant linear polarization. It is shown by a parametric analysis and performance optimization procedure that the latter polarizer type possesses superior bandwidth and angular scan characteristics. The analysis is based on the transmission-line analogy, where each polarizing layer is represented by equivalent impedances and the interaction between layers is considered via multiple reflections of the dominant propagating mode. It is also demonstrated that interlayer interactions of higher modes degrade polarizer performance, and restrict the range of validity of the transmission line model.