Amplified up-conversion of electromagnetic waves using time-varying metasurfaces

Abstract

Time-varying metamaterials and photonic time crystals offer a powerful route to wave amplification through temporal modulation of material parameters. Here, we experimentally demonstrate amplified up-conversion of free-space electromagnetic waves in the microwave regime using a time-varying metasurface composed of varactor-loaded coupled split-ring resonators. The metasurface supports a cascaded parametric process in which temporal modulation enhances the resonant response near the signal frequency and subsequently enables efficient radiation at higher sum-frequency components. Direct measurements in degenerate and non-degenerate regimes show amplified up-conversion exceeding the single-step conversion estimate based on the Manley-Rowe frequency ratio. These results establish time-varying metasurfaces as an efficient platform for amplification, generation, and frequency conversion of electromagnetic waves in the microwave and terahertz bands, with potential extension to higher frequencies using ultrafast modulation mechanisms.