Sub-6 GHz Asymmetric Spoof Surface Plasmon Polaritons based Broadband Beam Scanning Antenna for Wide Angle Coverage

In this research an interesting spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SSPPs) waveguide-based beam scanning antenna for wide angle coverage is proposed. The SSPPs waveguide is designed using the antisymmetric unit cell of periodic modulated metallic grooves. The non radiating mode of SSPPs is used to fed the elliptical patches placed close to the grooves for generating radiating fast mode. The asymmetry in the transverse direction of the waveguide is introduced for strong improvement in the continuous beam scanning range through broadside. The complete idea is theoretically and numerically validated, and it is found that single main beam steer from −46° (at 3.41 GHz) to +46° (at 5.63 GHz) through broadside which is quite difficult due to open stop band effect. The maximum scanning range and the impedance bandwidth of 92° and 66% is achieved in the leaky region respectively for sub-6 GHz band applications.