Magnetodielectric Materials in Antenna Design: Exploring the Potentials for Reconfigurability

The growing demand for low-profile, efficient compact antennas with reconfigurable characteristics has prompted antenna engineers to use novel materials in place of conventional dielectrics. Magnetodielectric materials combining both dielectric and magnetic properties have been widely investigated. In this article, we present a comprehensive literature study that examines the advantages and limitations of using these materials. We focus primarily on magnetodielectric materials exhibiting anisotropic behavior and tunable permeability by means of physical mechanisms (e.g., by applying an external magnetic field). This article provides theoretical background, modeling guidelines, and a step-by-step simulation procedure, and aims to be a straightforward and useful guide for the development of reconfigurable antennas using magnetic materials. We explain the reasons for selecting ferrimagnetic oxides for antenna applications and discuss their fundamental properties. The critical parameters that should be taken into consideration for the determination of the permeability of ferrimagnetic oxides in various magnetization states are reported. To demonstrate the proper use of this analysis, we have designed, simulated, and implemented a reconfigurable ferrite antenna prototype. The proposed simulated procedure is validated via measurements.