Dual-Band Antenna With Large Beam Steering Angle Incorporating Endfire and Frequency Scanning Modes Using Double-Layer SSPPs Structure

• Published in: IEEE transactions on antennas and propagation 2022-01, Vol.70 (1), p.46-55
• Main Authors: Zu, Hao-Ran, Wu, Bian, Zhao, Yu-Tong, Su, Tao, Fan, Yi-Feng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antennas; Beam steering; Dispersion; Dual bands; dual radiation modes; Electromagnetic waveguides; endfire; Frequency modulation; Frequency scanning; Harmonic analysis; Microwave antennas; Periodic structures; Polaritons; Radiation; Radiators; spoof surface plasmon polariton (SSPP); Waveguides
• ISSN: 0018-926X; 1558-2221
• DOI: 10.1109/TAP.2021.3096556

A dual wideband antenna with a large beam steering angle through endfire radiation and frequency scanning radiation in each band is proposed for the first time. The antenna utilizes a double-layer (D-L) spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SSPPs) structure which exhibits stronger field confinement and lower cutoff frequency than the single-layer (S-L) SSPPs structure. The modulated D-L SSPPs structure can excite the space harmonic distributing in the fast-wave region and retains transmission in the slow-wave region. By combing the modulated D-L SSPPs waveguide and the Vivaldi radiator, both the slow-wave radiation (endfire mode) and the fast-wave radiation (frequency scanning mode) can be aroused in the two operating bands. An example antenna is designed and fabricated. In the slow-wave range from 3 to 9 GHz, the antenna works in the endfire mode with the beam direction of 90° and the realized gain varying from 3.55 to 8.24 dBi. Within the fast waveband from 13 to 34 GHz, the antenna operates in the frequency-scanning mode, accomplishing beam scanning from −90° to ±42.5° with the realized gain of 9.45-15.67 dBi. Thus, the proposed dual-band antenna can achieve two operating bands and two radiation modes, which offers a 180° beam-changing angle in total.