Pattern Reconfigurable Leaky-Wave Antenna using Liquid Material

Abstract

The demand for high-performance antennas in X-band applications, such as satellite communication, radar systems, and 5G networks, has spurred extensive exploration into advanced antenna technologies. Leaky-wave antennas using a liquid-based approach represent a significant paradigm shift, offering remarkable advantages such as frequency scanning, improved gain, and reduced side lobe levels. These attributes are crucial in domains where dynamic beam steering is vital for reliable and efficient data transmission and target detection. Conventional phased array antennas, although effective in achieving high radiation power gain, rely on numerous phase shifters adjusted simultaneously for beam steering. With the increase in number of phase shifters, the antenna's volume and cost also increases. In this work, we provide a novel beamforming scheme that makes use of leaky-wave antenna theory to achieve adaptive and efficient beamforming. Our approach allows for complete beam steering utilizing water-filled tubes, while also greatly reducing beam width and improving gain. We included a water-based steering technique within the waveguide to direct the beam at different angles by adding water to circular channels. We tried a number of prototypes with and without water filling, aiming for high gain and narrow beam width in both planes, to guarantee the greatest performance. Our findings demonstrate that liquid-based leaky-wave antennas can save costs and simplify the system while improving operating flexibility and performance. The proposed design is a step forward in X-band antenna technology, providing a scalable and financially viable solution that overcomes the limitations of traditional phased array systems. This work paves the way for future improvements in antenna technology, which have the potential to completely transform communication and radar systems