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A Ku-Band Dual Polarization Hybrid-Mode Horn Antenna Enabled by Printed-Circuit-Board Metasurfaces.
- Source :
- IEEE Transactions on Antennas & Propagation; Mar2013, Vol. 61 Issue 3, p1089-1098, 10p
- Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- Metamaterials with properly engineered surface properties have been recently proposed for application in the design of broadband hybrid-mode horn antennas, such as soft and hard horns. In this paper, we present the design, fabrication, and measured results of a square dual-polarization horn antenna with thin metasurfaces lining the four walls, demonstrating broadband, negligible-loss hybrid-mode operation. By employing a powerful genetic-algorithm (GA) design optimization technique, we have dispersion-engineered low-index metaliners whose surface impedances satisfy the balanced hybrid condition across the Ku-band. The optimized metaliners were synthesized based on conventional printed-circuit board technology, leading to a lightweight and low-cost construction. To improve the cross-polarization response, a simple dielectric plug was placed in the throat of the horn to perform effective mode conversion. Measurements showed that the fabricated horn antenna prototype provided low sidelobes, low cross-polarization levels, and radiation patterns that are approximately independent of polarization. Excellent agreement was found between measured and simulated results across the entire band of operation. Both the far-field radiation patterns and the aperture field distributions confirm the hybrid-mode operation of the horn, validating the balanced metasurface design. This metamaterial-enabled antenna represents a low-cost alternative to other types of soft feed horns, such as corrugated horns. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Subjects :
- HORN antennas
APERTURE antennas
RADIO antennas
PRINTED circuits
GENETIC algorithms
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0018926X
- Volume :
- 61
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- IEEE Transactions on Antennas & Propagation
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 85988319
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1109/TAP.2012.2227448