Advanced feeds for mm-wave antenna systems

Abstract

Millimeter-wave antenna systems have traditionally required high performance feeds in order to fulfill its stringent requirements. Therefore, this goal has been achieved by corrugated horns. However, in the last years new applications mainly in the communication systems have driven the use of other types of antenna feed with slightly reduced performance but simpler manufacturing at mm-wave and submm-wave frequencies with improvements in cost reduction. These advanced profiles are usually based in smooth waveguide advanced profiles. Besides, the chapter describes different feed configurations based on metamaterial structures and several examples of metamaterial based or inspired antennas are considered. Then, this chapter covers the different alternatives currently used for mm-wave antenna feed: corrugated horns, spline horns, and metamaterial horns. At the end of each section, it includes some research successful results.