arXiv subjects

Pekka Ikonen

Publications and source records attributed to Pekka Ikonen.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2009

Choosing Dielectric or Magnetic Material to Optimize the Bandwidth of Miniaturized Resonant Antennas

We address the question of the optimal choice of loading material for antenna miniaturization. A new approach to identify the optimal loading material, dielectric or magnetic, is presented for resonant antennas. Instead of equivalent resonance circuits or transmission-line models, we use the analysis of radiation to identify the fields contributing mostly to the stored energy. This helps to determine the beneficial material type. The formulated principle is qualitatively illustrated using three antenna types. Guidelines for different antenna types are presented.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2009

Electrically small metamaterial-based antennas - have we seen any real practical benefits?

Electrically small metamaterial-based antennas are discussed from the industrial point of view using mobile phones as the application example. It appears, that despite the interesting theoretical findings, the commercial acceptability of these antennas is low. Some of the issues possibly leading to this situation are addressed. Discussion topics range from challenging application environment, through the response of finite-size composite-material samples, all the way to the required constructive criticism and acknowledgement of prior art. Selected issues are discussed in more details, and proposals how to possibly improve the commercial acceptability of metamaterial-based antennas are made.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2007

Mesoscopic effective material parameters for thin layers modeled as single and double grids of interacting loaded wires

As an example of thin composite layers we consider single and double grids of periodically arranged interacting wires loaded with a certain distributed reactive impedance. Currents induced to the wires by a normally incident plane wave are rigorously calculated and the corresponding dipole moment densities are determined. Using this data and the averaged fields we assign mesoscopic material parameters for the proposed grid structures. These parameters depend on the number of grids, and measure the averaged induced polarizations. It is demonstrated that properly loaded double grids possess polarization response that over some frequency range can be described by assigning negative values for the mesoscopic parameters. Discussion is conducted on the physical meaningfulness to assign such material parameters for thin composite slabs. The results predicted by the proposed method for the double-grid structures are compared with the results obtained using the commonly adopted S-parameter retrieval procedure.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2007

Magnification of Subwavelength Field Distributions at Microwave Frequencies Using a Wire Medium Slab Operating in the Canalization Regime

Magnification of subwavelength field distributions using a wire medium slab operating in the canalization regime is demonstrated using numerical simulations. The magnifying slab is implemented by radially enlarging the distance between adjacent wires, and the operational frequency is tuned to coincide with the Fabry-Perot resonance condition. The near-field distribution of a complex-shaped source is canalized over an electrical distance corresponding roughly to $3λ$, and the distribution details are magnified by a factor of three. The operation of the slab is studied at several frequencies deviating from the Fabry-Perot resonance.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2007

Modeling and Analysis of Composite Antenna Superstrates Consisting on Grids of Loaded Wires

We study the characteristics and radiation mechanism of antenna superstrates based on closely located periodical grids of loaded wires. An explicit analytical method based on the local field approach is used to study the reflection and transmission properties of such superstrates. It is shown that as a result of proper impedance loading there exists a rather wide frequency band over which currents induced to the grids cancel each other, leading to a wide transmission maximum. In this regime radiation is produced by the magnetic dipole moments created by circulating out-of-phase currents flowing in the grids. An impedance matrix representation is derived for the superstrates, and the analytical results are validated using full-wave simulations. As a practical application example we study numerically the radiation characteristics of dipole antennas illuminating finite-size superstrates.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2007

On the Definition of Effective Permittivity and Permeability For Thin Composite Layers

The problem of definition of effective material parameters (permittivity and permeability) for composite layers containing only one-two parallel arrays of complex-shaped inclusions is discussed. Such structures are of high importance for the design of novel metamaterials, where the realizable layers quite often have only one or two layers of particles across the sample thickness. Effective parameters which describe the averaged induced polarizations are introduced. As an explicit example, we develop an analytical model suitable for calculation of the effective material parameters $ε_{\rm{eff}}$ and $μ_{\rm{eff}}$ for double arrays of electrically small electrically polarizable scatterers. Electric and magnetic dipole moments induced in the structure and the corresponding reflection and transmission coefficients are calculated using the local field approach for the normal plane-wave incidence, and effective parameters are introduced through the averaged fields and polarizations. In the absence of losses both material parameters are purely real and satisfy the Kramers-Kronig relations and the second law of thermodynamics. We compare the analytical results to the simulated and experimental results available in the literature. The physical meaning of the introduced parameters is discussed in detail.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2006

On Impedance Bandwidth of Resonant Patch Antennas Implemented Using Structures with Engineered Dispersion

We consider resonant patch antennas, implemented using loaded transmission-line networks and other exotic structures having engineered dispersion. An analytical expression is derived for the ratio of radiation quality factors of such antennas and conventional patch antennas loaded with (reference) dielectrics. In the ideal case this ratio depends only on the propagation constant and wave impedance of the structure under test, and it can be conveniently used to study what kind of dispersion leads to improved impedance bandwidth. We illustrate the effect of dispersion by implementing a resonant patch antenna using a periodic network of LC elements. The analytical results predicting enhanced impedance bandwidth compared to the reference results are validated using a commercial circuit simulator. Discussion is conducted on the practical limitations for the use of the proposed expression.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2006

Microstrip antenna miniaturization using partial dielectric material filling

In this paper we study microstrip antenna miniaturization using partial filling of the antenna volume with dielectric materials. An analytical expression is derived for the quality factor of an antenna loaded with a combination of two different materials. This expression can be used to optimize the filling pattern for the design that most efficiently retains the impedance bandwidth after size reduction. Qualitative design rules are given, and a miniaturization example is provided where the antenna performance is compared for different filling patterns. Results given by the analytical model are verified with numerical simulations and experiments. Key words: Microstrip antenna, miniaturization, partial filling, impedance bandwidth, quality factor.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2006

Vector circuit theory for spatially dispersive uniaxial magneto-dielectric slabs

We present a general dyadic vector circuit formalism, applicable for uniaxial magneto-dielectric slabs, with strong spatial dispersion explicitly taken into account. This formalism extends the vector circuit theory, previously introduced only for isotropic and chiral slabs. Here we assume that the problem geometry imposes strong spatial dispersion only in the plane, parallel to the slab interfaces. The difference arising from taking into account spatial dispersion along the normal to the interface is briefly discussed. We derive general dyadic impedance and admittance matrices, and calculate corresponding transmission and reflection coefficients for arbitrary plane wave incidence. As a practical example, we consider a metamaterial slab built of conducting wires and split-ring resonators, and show that neglecting spatial dispersion and uniaxial nature in this structure leads to dramatic errors in calculation of transmission characteristics.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2006

Generalized Permeability Function and Field Energy Density in Artificial Magnetics Using the Equivalent Circuit Method

The equivalent circuit model for artificial magnetic materials based on various arrangements of split rings is generalized by taking into account losses in the substrate or matrix material. It is shown that a modification is needed to the known macroscopic permeability function in order to correctly describe these materials. Depending on the dominating loss mechanism (conductive losses in metal parts or dielectric losses in the substrate) the permeability function has different forms. The proposed circuit model and permeability function are experimentally validated. Furthermore, starting from the generalized circuit model we derive an explicit expression for the electromagnetic field energy density in artificial magnetic media. This expression is valid at low frequencies and in the vicinity of the resonance also when dispersion and losses in the material are strong. The presently obtained results for the energy density are compared with the results obtained using different methods.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2006

Magneto-Dielectric Substrates in Antenna Miniaturization: Potential and Limitations

In the present paper we discuss antenna miniaturization using magneto-dielectric substrates. Recent results found in the literature reveal that advantages over conventional dielectric substrates can only be achieved if natural magnetic inclusions are embedded into the substrate. This observation is revised and the physical background is clarified. We present a detailed discussion concerning magnetic materials available in the microwave regime and containing natural magnetic constituents. The effects of magnetic dispersion and loss are studied: constraints on the microwave permeability are used to estimate the effect of magnetic substrates on the achievable impedance bandwidth. Microwave composites filled with thin ferromagnetic films are considered as a prospective antenna substrate. We calculate the impedance bandwidth for a $λ/2$-patch antenna loaded with the proposed substrate, and challenge the results against those obtained with conventional dielectric substrates. It is shown that the radiation quality factor is strongly minimized with the proposed substrate even in the presence of realistic losses. Estimates for the radiation efficiency are given as a function of the magnetic loss factor.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2005

Experimental demonstration of sub-wavelength image channeling using capacitively loaded wire medium

In this letter we experimentally demonstrate a possibility to achieve significant sub-wavelength resolution of a near-field image channeled through a layer of an electromagnetic crystal. An image having radius of $λ/10$ has been realized using an electrically dense lattice of capacitively loaded wires. The loading allows to reduce the lattice period dramatically so that it is only a small fraction of the free-space wavelength. It is shown that losses in the structure only decrease the total amplitude of the image, but do not influence the resolution.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2005

On Artificial Magneto-Dielectric Loading for Improving the Impedance Bandwidth Properties of Microstrip Antennas

In the present paper we discuss the effect of artificial magneto-dielectric substrates on the impedance bandwidth properties of microstrip antennas. The results found in the literature for antenna miniaturization using magnetic or magneto-dielectric substrates are revised, and discussion is addressed to the practically realizable artificial magnetic media operating in the microwave regime. Using a transmission-line model we, first, reproduce the known results for antenna miniaturization with non-dispersive material fillings. Next, a realistic dispersive behavior of a practically realizable artificial substrate is embedded into the model, and we show that frequency dispersion of the substrate plays a very important role in the impedance bandwidth characteristics of the loaded antenna. The impedance bandwidths of reduced size patch antennas loaded with dispersive magneto-dielectric substrates and high-permittivity substrates are compared. It is shown that unlike substrates with dispersion-free permeability, practically realizable artificial substrates with dispersive magnetic permeability are not advantageous in antenna miniaturization. This conclusion is experimentally validated.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2005

Improving antenna near-field pattern by use of artificial impedance screens

An antenna prototype utilizing artificial impedance surfaces to control the near field distribution is described. The antenna is a folded dipole placed above a finite-size artificial impedance surface. We have found that the field screening is most effective if the surface is a metal conductor. However, to achieve a reasonable value of the radiation resistance the dipole should be located far off the screen. If the surface is a magnetic wall, the antenna design is more compact, but the field behind the screen is large. Here we realize a compromise solution using an inductive surface of a moderate surface impedance, which allows realization of an effective near-field screen with still a reasonably low-profile design.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2005

Light-Weight Base Station Antenna with Artificial Wire Medium Lens

In this paper we study the possibility of utilizing a loaded wire medium as an artificial material for beam shaping element in base station antenna applications. The wires in the lattice are loaded with a proper capacitive impedance to come up with a structure effectively operating as a dielectric lens at the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) frequency range. It is proven with full-wave simulations that the interpretation of a finite size wire lattice as a dielectric lens is physically sound even with a moderate number of lattice periods. A prototype having a mechanically reconfigurable beam width is constructed and measured. It is shown that very promising performance can be achieved with a rather simple structure and a cheap manufacturing process.

physics.class-ph↗