X-Band Dual-Polarization Microstrip Patch Subarray Antenna for Satellite Synthetic-Aperture Radar (SAR) Applications

Abstract

In this study, a high-performance, dual linearly polarized patch array antenna is presented for satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) applications. The antenna features an aperture-fed stacked patch as the radiation element and a stripline feeding network. A high-performance and low-loss dielectric substrate RF-35 by Taconic, and a honeycomb substrate is used. The honeycomb substrate is used to maximize the impedance bandwidth and decrease the insertion loss of the antenna. The proposed antenna offers exceptional isolation between the antenna's ports in excess of 55 dB owing to its stripline feeding network. The via stitching technique is utilized to suppress the parallel-plate mode excited by the discontinuities in the stripline. The antenna is designed to possess a wide impedance bandwidth. A prototype antenna of size 2×4 elements, which operates in the X-band, is fabricated. Its impedance and radiation performance are experimentally verified, and the results are presented. The antenna exhibits a 15.7 dB peak gain and more than 40 dB of cross-polarization discrimination. In addition, a wide bandwidth of 19.4 % at a −10 dB return loss (RL) level is obtained.

Preparation and electromagnetic performance of a light-weight, thin, and high-gain three-dimensional woven hollow structure microstrip antenna

“…6 However, the connection between the honeycomb core and the upper and lower panels was achieved by using adhesive bonding or careful splicing. 7 7,8 When the electromagnetic wave passes through the adhesive and the complex honeycomb structure, the energy is greatly attenuated. 6,9 At the same time, due to the presence of the honeycomb core, which to a certain extent increased the longitudinal volume of the microstrip antenna, when the panel was subjected to flight load, it was easy to peel off and separate the panel.…”