FDTD analysis of a metal-strip-loaded dielectric leaky-wave antenna

The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is used to analyze a dielectric leaky-wave antenna comprising metal strips etched on a rectangular dielectric rod. The radiation patterns of the leaky-wave antenna with and without the transition are determined by using FDTD. The effects of the launching discontinuity on the performance of the antenna are discussed. In addition, the application of the perfectly matched layer (PML) technique to the three-dimensional (3-D) dielectric waveguide and its performance, compared to those of the Mur's (1981) first-order and super-absorbing Mur's first-order absorbing boundary conditions (ABCs) are described. In addition, the effects caused by perturbation on the wave propagation characteristics of dielectric waveguide are also discussed. The FDTD results are verified by a W-band experiment and found to be in good agreement.