Miniature Antennas and Arrays Embedded Within Magnetic Photonic Crystals

This letter presents the performance of small antennas embedded within a new class of magnetic photonic crystals (MPCs) constructed from periodic arrangements of homogenous and anisotropic material layers. Earlier studies of these crystals demonstrated that they exhibit slow modes within their propagation bands associated with minimal reflection at the air-crystal interface, drastic slow down of the group velocity and concurrent increase in the amplitude of the field within the crystal. In this letter, we take advantage of the latter to demonstrate the extraordinary high gain that small antennas exhibit when placed within the MPC. We also examine array configuration inside the MPC to enhance power reception and to further narrow the radiation pattern beam. An initial investigation on the effect of crystal thickness and material loss due to the MPC is also considered.