High-gain antipodal Vivaldi antenna with metamaterial covers

摘要

A metamaterial slab covered antipodal Vivaldi antenna (MSAVA) is proposed to improve the radiation properties of the antipodal Vivaldi antenna (AVA). The metamaterial covers (MCs) consist of two types of metal rectangular ring arrays that have a higher effective permittivity than the substrate. The MCs can achieve a guiding effect and direct electromagnetic waves radiated from the side of AVA to the end-fire direction. The original AVA and the proposed MSAVA are simulated, fabricated and measured. The results show that |S-11| of the two antennas is less than -10 dB in the frequency band of 0.95-11 GHz. Due to the introduction of MCs, MSAVA obtains a much narrower H-plane's half-power beamwidth, and the E-plane's is narrowed as well. The radiation gain is also improved in the frequency band. Moreover, the maximum gain of the proposed MSAVA is 17.67 dBi. Compared with the original AVA, the maximum gain is enhanced by 6.86 dB for the proposed MSAVA. The presented MSAVA featuring broad bandwidth, high gain and narrow beam has a high potential in ground penetrating radar, microwave imaging application and other broadband wireless systems.