Wide-Angle Beam-Scanning Leaky-Wave Antenna Array Based on Hole Array SSPPs

In this letter, a leaky-wave antenna (LWA) array based on hole array spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SSPPs) is proposed, which can realize wide frequency beam-scanning angle. By etching periodic hole arrays on the upper metal of the defective ground structure, the SSPP structure is formed and the frequency scanning beam is generated by using its higher order radiation mode characteristics. The radiation mechanisms of the design are explained by using the dispersion relationship, electric field distributions, and space harmonics. The LWA array is fed by a 1 to 4 power divider and achieves good impedance matching within 6–16 GHz bandwidth. The average peak gain value of the proposed LWA antenna array is about 16.86 dBi and the frequency beam-scanning range is 91°. The antenna array has the characteristics of easy fabrication, low cost, and high gain performance, which provides a new design concept for wide-scanning-angle LWA Array and can meet the demand of high gain requirements in radar and other related fields.