Leaky-Wave Centerline Longitudinal Slot Antenna Fed by Transversely Magnetized Ferrite

We propose a leaky-wave slot antenna that consists of a longitudinal slot cut into the broad wall center of a ferrite-filled rectangular waveguide. The centerline longitudinal slot is excited by the TE₁₀ mode of transversely magnetized ferrite waveguide, which has anti-symmetric surface current density. The electromagnetic behavior of this antenna is studied and validated numerically by the finite-element method. It is shown that the beam direction of the proposed antenna at the fixed frequency can be scanned by bias magnetic field that is attractive in such radar and measurement systems. Compared with previous work, the fabrication requirements on this structure are not critical, which enhances its potential applicability.