Engineering of Spoof Surface Plasmon Polaritons (SSPPs) from Microwaves to Terahertz: Novel device architectures and miniaturization strategies for next-generation systems (Antennas, Filters, sensors and photovoltaic cells)

Spoof Surface Plasmon Polaritons (SSPPs) represent a transformative approach to electromagnetic wave manipulation, enabling plasmonic-like behavior at microwave and terahertz frequencies through artificially structured metallic surfaces. Unlike natural surface plasmons confined to optical frequencies, SSPPs utilize subwavelength periodic structures such as corrugated metal strips, grooves, or metamaterial patterns to achieve strong field confinement and slow-wave propagation at lower frequencies. This research focuses on engineering innovative SSPP-based device architectures that leverage these unique dispersion characteristics for extreme miniaturization and enhanced performance in next-generation communication and sensing systems. By exploring novel geometries and metasurface configurations, the work addresses critical challenges in designing compact, high-efficiency antennas, filters, sensors, and photovoltaic cells, including emerging classes of wearable antennas and flexible electronic platforms. The integration of SSPPs into practical devices promises unprecedented control over electromagnetic waves, enabling ultra-compact components with superior bandwidth, radiation efficiency, and sensitivity. This interdisciplinary topic bridges fundamental electromagnetic theory with cutting-edge applications in wireless communications, biomedical sensing, energy harvesting, terahertz technology, and body-centric devices.

The primary goal of this research is to investigate and engineer spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SSPPs) from the microwave to terahertz frequency regimes, to develop novel device architectures that are highly compact, efficient, and adaptable for next-generation systems. The key problem to be addressed lies in the limitations of conventional electromagnetic devices, which often suffer from bulky sizes, limited bandwidth control, weak field confinement, and high propagation losses when scaled toward higher frequencies. These constraints hinder the integration of advanced antennas, filters, sensors, and photovoltaic devices—including miniaturized and wearable platforms—into modern systems. To overcome these challenges, this research proposes the systematic engineering of SSPP structures and metasurfaces that can mimic and extend plasmonic behavior across a wide frequency spectrum. By tailoring dispersion properties, optimizing coupling mechanisms, and leveraging innovative geometrical designs, it becomes possible to achieve enhanced electromagnetic confinement, improved frequency selectivity, and superior device miniaturization. Furthermore, exploring hybrid designs that integrate SSPPs with active and reconfigurable materials will open opportunities for tunable and multifunctional devices. Ultimately, this approach seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for SSPP-based engineering that enables the realization of compact, high-performance antennas (including wearable formats), selective filters, ultra-sensitive sensors, and efficient energy-harvesting photovoltaic cells, addressing both current technological demands and future system-level integration.

This Research Topic encompasses the complete spectrum of Spoof Surface Plasmon Polariton (SSPP) engineering, from fundamental electromagnetic theory and novel structural designs to practical device implementations and system-level integration across microwave, millimeter-wave, and terahertz frequency ranges. We seek contributions that advance both the scientific understanding of SSPP physics and the technological maturity of SSPP-based devices for real-world applications, including wearable and body-centric applications. The scope is deliberately broad to encourage interdisciplinary contributions spanning electromagnetics, metamaterials, nanophotonics, materials science, microfabrication, and system engineering, while maintaining focus on innovations that address critical challenges in miniaturization, efficiency, bandwidth, reconfigurability, and manufacturability for next-generation wireless

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Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: High-Performance Antennas; Metasurface Engineering; Microwave-to-Terahertz Devices; Miniaturization Strategies; Photovoltaic Energy Harvesting; Plasmonic Filters and Sensors.

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