Millimeter-Wave Dielectric Waveguide-Based Leaky-Wave Antenna Array

Abstract

A dielectric slab waveguide based four-element leaky-wave antenna array configuration, with open-stopband suppression, operating in K _a -band is presented. A one-to-four power divider using V-junctions is developed for the feed network of the antenna array. Leaky-wave antennas are inherently directive in the plane of the length of the aperture. Owing to the array configuration, the beamwidth of the radiation pattern in the transverse plane decreases. Hence, a frequency-scanning pencil-beam radiation pattern is obtained. The array is placed above a planar metal reflector, thereby further increasing the radiation gain.