Design of Miniaturized Dominant Mode Leaky-Wave Antenna with Backfire-to-Endfire Scanning Capability by using Metamaterials

A new miniaturized dominant mode leaky-wave antenna is proposed. This antenna is a transmission line structure with radiating wavenumber increasing from negative to positive values, providing backward to forward scanning capability as frequency is increased. The antenna profile is designed based on microstrip technology using balanced composite right left handed transmission lines (CRLH TL) approach. The balanced CRLH TL is designed based on cascaded combination of inter digital capacitor (IDC) in series and vias to the ground plane at the bended stub ends in shunt. Bended stubs are used in each section for the purpose of miniaturization. Dispersion characteristics of CRLH TL shows the left handed region, right handed region and balanced design of composite right left handed metamaterial. The radiation pattern of the proposed antenna confirms the full scanability i.e. backfire-to-endfire scanning capability of the antenna. The characteristics and performances of the antenna are demonstrated by full-wave electromagnetic simulator based on method of moments and all characteristics and performances are verified by another full-wave electromagnetic simulator based on integrated equations.