Super Realized Gain Antenna Array
D. Lynch, Manos M. Tentzeris, Vincent Fusco, Stylianos D. Asimonis
Abstract
In this study, we introduce a novel antenna design method for superdirective antennas that combines low complexity with high radiation efficiency, while being impedance-matched to <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$50~\Omega $ </tex-math></inline-formula>. We applied this approach to design, fabricate, and measure a superdirective antenna array (SDA) with a high realized antenna gain (i.e., 6.3 dBi) and radiation efficiency (i.e., 99.3%), consisting of two strip dipole elements operating at a frequency of 3.5 GHz. The fabricated antenna has an electrical size of 1.55, underscoring its compactness in addition to its high gain. Our approach is distinguished by its ability to achieve high directivity and radiation efficiency, along with impedance-matching to <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$50~\Omega $ </tex-math></inline-formula>, through meticulous adjustments of the strip dimensions (i.e., length and width) and the phase difference between elements. This method eliminates the need for external impedance-matching networks, amplifiers, attenuators, parasitic elements, or loads, marking a significant advancement in the development of practical superdirective antenna designs.