Broadband microwave absorber using pixelated FSS embedded in CISR sheets in frequency range of 3.95 to 8.2 GHz

Abstract

In this paper, pixelated Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) layer embedded in two carbonyl iron-filled silicon rubber (CISR) sheets are used for design of broadband microwave absorber in frequency range of 3.95 to 8.2 GHz. Top and bottom layers of CISR sheets are prepared with 24% and 33% of Carbonyl Iron (CI) powder by volume, respectively. Reflectivity of microwave absorber, complex permittivity and complex permeability of CISR sheets are evaluated using two Rectangular Dielectric Waveguide (RDWG) measurement systems in 3.95 to 5.85 GHz frequency band (WR-187) and 5.85 to 8.2 GHz frequency band (WR-137). An algorithm was developed using Geometry-Refinement Method (GRM) and Genetic Algorithm (GA) optimization technique to design pixelated FSS layer. Measured as well as simulated reflectivity of composite microwave absorber is better than −10 dB at normal incidence in the frequency range of 3.95–8.2 GHz. For oblique incidence from 0${}^{\circ }$ to 40${}^{\circ }$, simulated reflectivity of TE and TM polarizations carried out for all angles of incidence.

Keywords:

• Microwave absorber
• pixelated FSS
• CISR sheets
• RDWG

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research work was supported by Space Application Center (SAC) (Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)), India under RESPOND project ISRO/RES/3/742/17-18.

Notes on contributors

Rahul Vashisth

Rahul Vashisht is pursuing his PhD since January 2015 at Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology (DA-IICT), Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. He obtained his BE degree from AVCOE Sangamner, Ahmedabad, Maharashtra, India in June 2009. He obtained his MTech degree from HITAM, Hyderabad, Telangana, India in June 2013. He has experience as JRF/SRF in ISRO (India) project from Aug 2017 to July 2021. His research interests include microwave non-destructive testing of composite materials and structures, optimization, frequency selective surface (conventional and pixelated), pixelated patch antenna design, FDTD and material characterization. He has more than 8 years of teaching and 6 years of research in RF and Microwave Engineering.

Deepak K. Ghodgaonkar

Dr Deepak K. Ghodgaonkar is a professor at Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology (DA-IICT), Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India since January 2006. He received BE Electronics degree from Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV), Indore, in June 1976, MTech degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IITB), Mumbai, in July 1978 and PhD degree in electrical engineering from the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA, in May 1987. His research interests are in areas such as Microwave Nondestructive Testing of Composite Materials and Structures. Microwave Imaging of Human Body, Biomedical Applications of Microwaves, Dielectric Resonator Antennas, Characterization of Nonlinear Dielectric Materials and Solid-State Power Amplifiers for Satellite Applications. He has more than 35 years of experience in teaching and research in the field of RF and Microwave Engineering. He has published more than 150 books, journal papers, conference papers and technical reports. Dr Ghodgaonkar is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (FIEM), Malaysia, a Fellow of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (FIETE), India and a Senior Member of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, (SMIEEE).

Sanjeev Gupta

Sanjeev Gupta is currently a Professor and Dean (R&D) at Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology (DA-IICT), Gandhinagar (Gujarat), India. After graduation and MTech from University of Delhi, he joined SAMEER, IIT Campus, Mumbai – an offshoot of TIFR. He was awarded Commonwealth Scholarship by Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, London in 1994. Consequently, he did his PhD from The Queen's University of Belfast, UK in 1997. He has more than thirty years of experience (including eighteen years of teaching experience) in the field of High Frequency Microwave and Millimeter Wave Electronics, Antennas, Radars and Communication and Wireless Sub-systems/ Systems from VHF to millimeter wave frequencies. He has authored and published / presented more than seventy publications in reputed National and International Journals and Conferences. His research interests include Antennas including Active Integrated Antennas and Smart Antennas, Radar and Wireless Communication Sub-systems and Systems, RF/Microwave and Millimeter Wave Applications.