Improving Compact Short Backfire Antenna Gain and Cross-Polarization Using Choke and Ring Cavity Loading

We present two designs that improve the gain and cross-polarization performance of the waveguide-fed short backfire (SBF) antenna by introducing a choke (SBF-2) and by loading the cavity with a metallic ring feature (SBF-2-Ring). A series of parametric simulation studies on antenna dimensions provides information on how to improve the antenna gain and cross-polarization performance while simultaneously extending the impedance bandwidth. For SBF-2, the peak gain was 16.6 dBi, the minimum cross-polarization ratio was −23.8 dB, and the maximum impedance bandwidth was 27.3%, with a gain bandwidth of 19.2%. For SBF-2-Ring, the peak gain was 15.8 dBi, the minimum cross-polarization ratio was −29.1 dB, and the maximum impedance bandwidth was 43.5%, with a gain bandwidth of 31.8%. The concepts were verified by designing, fabricating, and testing two prototypes in the microwave C-band. Excellent agreement between simulation and measurement was achieved. The measured gain for SBF-2-Ring was >14 dBi for 4.7–6.2 GHz and the worst case cross polarization in the diagonal plane was $< -22$ dB for 5.3–5.8 GHz. Cross-polarization in the principal planes has significantly greater bandwidth and the worst case analysis is presented to give limitations on the performance.