Analysis and Design of Annular Microstrip-Based Planar Periodic Leaky-Wave Antennas

Abstract

A low-cost leaky-wave antenna using cylindrical surface waves propagating on a grounded dielectric slab is proposed. The excited surface waves are then perturbed into a leaky-wave regime, by the addition of annular microstrip-based ("bull-eye") gratings. Various surface-wave modes may be considered, however, we desire to achieve radiation from the fundamental TM0 mode due to its zero cutoff frequency and possibility for efficient excitation. A comprehensive design strategy is detailed in the paper. It is based on both an accurate knowledge of the modal spectrum, obtained with the method of moments, and an analysis of the resonant modes supported by the constituent microstrip rings. To further support our methodology, numerical calculations, full-wave simulations, and antenna measurements are reported for the basic structure. Also, additional designs for enhanced gain at broadside, reduced cross-polarization levels, and improved wide-angle frequency beam scanning are presented

3-D-Printed 96 GHz Bull’s-Eye Antenna With Off-Axis Beaming

“…In parallel, modulated surfaces were analyzed for the propagation of surface and leaky waves in [12] and, soon after, for radiation from periodic structures [13]. Jackson, Guglielmi and other authors have presented the leaky-wave propagation and beamscanning capabilities of diverse structures [14]- [16]. Nowadays, an extensive bibliography can be found on the subject [17]- [19].…”

“…In [16], [27], [34]- [36], a novel leaky wave Bull's Eye antenna design was analyzed thoroughly. Its novelty laid in that it consisted on a grounded dielectric slab (GDS) loaded with annular concentric metallic strips and fed by a coupled aperture slot along with a surface wave launcher.…”

Printed Leaky-Wave Antenna With Aperture Control Using Width-Modulated Microstrip Lines and TM Surface-Wave Feeding by SIW Technology

“…Following these developments, planar LWAs using Cartesian [21] and Polar [22] aperture arrangements and TM 0 surfacewave launchers (SWLs) have been reported [2], [25]. Typically the Yagi-Uda-like SWL uses slots which are integrated within the ground plane of a grounded dielectric slab (GDS) and where the main driven slot is connected to a 50-Ω coplanar transmission line for antenna feeding.…”

Omnidirectional Radiation in the Presence of Homogenized Metasurfaces

“…Azimuthally symmetric planar structures have recently been considered for the realization of, e.g., printed antennas [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8], enhanced electromagnetic-wave transmission through a subwavelength aperture [9,10], plasmonic lenses [11][12][13][14], and optoelectronic applications [15][16][17][18]. In particular, the possibility of producing azimuthally symmetric fields has attracted interest for antenna designs with conical radiation patterns and reconfigurable polarization [19], which may be employed in Local Area Networks [20][21][22][23] as well as in radio links between satellites and moving vehicles [24][25][26].…”