Reduction of leaky wave coupling in a superstrate loaded antenna using metamaterial

ABSTRACT

In this paper, an approach is presented for reducing leaky wave coupling of superstrate loaded slot array using zero index metamaterial structure. The dielectric superstrate generally aims at increasing the directivity of the antenna by the generation of leaky wave. In another aspect, the leaky wave reduces the isolation between radiating elements in multiple antenna system. Here, the metamaterial has been used to mitigate the mutual coupling by reducing the generation of the leaky wave. By the help of this approach, the isolation is improved throughout the operational bandwidth and maximum 15 dB isolation improvement is achieved with an edge to edge distance of 4 mm between radiating elements.

KEYWORDS:

• Mutual coupling
• leaky wave
• zero index metamaterial
• slot antenna
• dielectric superstrate

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India [grant number 08/003(110)/2015-EMR-I] and the Visvesvaraya Young Faculty Research Fellowship award under MeitY, Govt. of India.