High-gain composite microstrip patch antenna with the near-zero-refractive-index metamaterial

doi:10.1016/j.ijleo.2014.06.158

Optik

Volume 125, Issue 21, November 2014, Pages 6491-6495

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijleo.2014.06.158 Get rights and content

Abstract

A high-gain rectangular microstrip patch antenna which is covered by a single layer metamaterial (MTM) superstrate with the near zero refractive index is proposed. The refraction of the metamaterial at frequency 3.51 GHz–3.57 GHz is very close to zero. The metamaterial with the near zero refractive index is placed 42 mm above an ordinary rectangular microstrip patch antenna. The effectively zero refractive index behavior of metamaterial superstrate can gather the wave emitted from the microstrip patch antenna and collimate it toward the normal direction of the antenna. The finite element method (FEM) and the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method are used to study the characteristics of this antenna. The results of the two methods indicate that the realized gain of the proposed antenna is increased by more than 6 dB, and the antenna has a flatness high gain in the predicted frequency band, where the proposed MTM is designed to have a near zero index of refraction. Therefore, the high-gain antenna is effectively enhanced based on the near-zero-refractive-index metamaterial.

Introduction

Since Veselago [1] has investigated various properties of MTMs with the negative permittivity and permeability, numerous applications of MTMs such as high-directive antennas and superlens have been continuously explored [2], [3]. MTM can occur in corresponding resonance to electric and magnetic fields based on the different structure unit cell, which can easily control the effective permittivity and effective permeability. Based on this idea, the MTM with the effective permittivity and effective permeability are negative or zero can be designed in microwaves [4]. Moreover, as a branch of the artificial electromagnetic effects, zero-refractive-index MTM caused public concern widely, which can be used to achieve high-gain directional radiation. According to Snell's law (n₁sin θ₁ = n₂sin θ₂), when the ray is incident from inside the zero-refractive-index MTM (n₁ = 0) into free space (n₂ > 0), no matter how much angle of incidence (θ₁), the angle of refraction (θ₂₎ will be close to zero, so the refracted rays will be normal to the interface. This property provides a unique method of controlling the direction of emission. Enoch et al. [5] experimentally demonstrated for the first time that energy radiated by a source embedded in a slab of zero index MTM will be concentrated in a narrow cone in the surrounding media, so a great improvement of directivity was potentially obtained. Wu et al. [6] studied the performances of the dipole antenna embedded in different low/zero index MTM structures.

Recently, high-gain microstrip patch antenna had been realized by increasing radiation patch or using antenna array, and mostly high-gain antennas are achieved by embedding antenna into the near-zero-refractive-index MTM. But these methods will increase the size and complexity of the antenna. In this letter, we have presented the microstrip patch antenna structure covered with a planar thin MTM superstrate based on a near zero refractive index over a wide frequency range. The design is simple and the antenna has a simple feed system. Its concerned parameters are obtained by the FEM and FDTD method to simulation and analysis. The results of the two methods have good consistency. Comparing to the ordinary microstrip patch antenna, the proposed antenna with near-zero-index MTM shows large improvement in a realized gain with excellent flatness in a wide frequency band.

Section snippets

Computing model of antenna

At present, the electromagnetic methods of solving and analysing antenna mainly included method of moment (MOM), FEM, FDTD, etc. These numerical methods can provide high accuracy in the analysis of the radiation and scattering problems of metal conductor. In this paper, we use the FEM and FDTD to analyze the high-gain microstrip patch antenna.

The design and testing of near-zero-refractive-index MTM

The near-zero-refractive-index MTM is realized by etching the periodic rectangular-shaped box unit cell on the one side of the dielectric-slab. Fig. 1a is the periodic rectangular-shaped box unit cell, and it is realized by slotting cross-shaped and four small rectangles on the center of rectangular patch; the detailed dimension is shown in Fig. 1a. Fig. 1b is the geometry of proposed MTM structure, and it is composed of 6 × 6 unit cells that are placed 42 mm above the patch antenna. The structure

The design of antenna

According to the design formula of rectangular microstrip patch antenna and the simulation optimization of FEM, we have designed the ordinary rectangular microstrip patch antenna of the center frequency at 5.57 GHz. The dielectric substrate of the antenna is FR-4 epoxy glass fiber board with the relative dielectric constant being 4.4, and thickness being 5.0 mm. The radiation patch, microstrip feed and ground plate are the perfect electric conductors. The size of radiation patch is 22 mm × 18 mm, and

Conclusion

In this paper, we have designed a near-zero-refractive-index high-gain rectangular microstrip antenna with the MTM substrate, which can be used to gather electromagnetic beam. The refraction of MTM in 3.51 GHz–3.57 GHz is near zero and the radiation beam can be converged in this frequency range, which can improve the antenna's gain significantly. The simulation results show that the realized gain of the proposed antenna is increased by more than 6 dB, and the antenna has a high gain in frequency

References (13)

V.G. Veselago
The electrodynamics of substances with simultaneously negative values of ɛ and μ
Sov. Phys. Usp.
(1968)
J.B. Pendry
Negative refraction make a perfect lens
Phys. Rev. Lett.
(2000)
B.L. Wu et al.
Anistropic metamaterials as antenna substrate to enhance directivity
Microw. Opt. Technol. Lett.
(2006)
J.B. Pendry et al.
Controlling electromagnetic fields
Science
(2006)
S. Enoch et al.
A metamaterial for directive emission
Phys. Rev. Lett.
(2002)
B.L. Wu et al.
A study of using metamaterials as antenna substrate to enhance gain
PIER
(2005)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

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View full text

High-gain composite microstrip patch antenna with the near-zero-refractive-index metamaterial

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Computing model of antenna

The design and testing of near-zero-refractive-index MTM

The design of antenna

Conclusion

The electrodynamics of substances with simultaneously negative values of ɛ and μ

Sov. Phys. Usp.

Negative refraction make a perfect lens

Phys. Rev. Lett.

Anistropic metamaterials as antenna substrate to enhance directivity

Microw. Opt. Technol. Lett.

Controlling electromagnetic fields

Science

A metamaterial for directive emission

Phys. Rev. Lett.

A study of using metamaterials as antenna substrate to enhance gain

PIER