Spoof Surface Plasmon Polariton-Based Shadow Region Illumination for Wireless Networks

Abstract

This work presents a Spoof Surface Plasmon Polariton (SSPP)-based waveguide that functions as a low-pass filter below 6.3 GHz. A co-planar waveguide (CPW) with flared ground planes is employed to excite the unit cells. Rectangular inserts are incorporated to ensure momentum matching between the CPW and the SSPP unit cells. After validating the performance of the planar configuration, the waveguide is bent by 90° to create a conformal architecture, exhibiting similar transmission characteristics to the original planar design. The conformal SSPP design is then employed in an example sub-6 GHz wireless blind spot illumination scenario, showing its potential as an enabling technology for improving coverage in wireless networks. The proposed structure provides a simple and cost-effective approach for feeding antenna array systems aimed at illuminating shadow regions caused by dense urban buildings. © 2026 IEEE.