Improved reflector backed UWB fat monopole antenna for GPR application

Short range radar like ground penetrating radar needs large bandwidth for high resolution and low frequency for better penetration. This puts constraints on the antenna design to have a compact UWB antenna at lower center frequency with unidirectional pattern. This paper emphasizes on the improvement of fractional bandwidth of a stepped reflector backed fat monopole antenna for unidirectional radiation pattern throughout the required bandwidth. The design, simulation and experimental results are included in this paper.