A Class of Dielectric Resonator Antennas with Thermally Enhanced Performance

A new class of dielectric resonator antennas with co-optimized electromagnetic and thermal characteristics is presented. The use of dielectric materials with high thermal conductivity, such as alumina, allows for a combined electromagnetic and thermal functionality, on the most basic level, of a cylindrical dielectric resonator antenna. Perforations are produced in the radiating structure to improve the corresponding thermal characteristics while maintaining suitable electromagnetic performance. The proposed antenna element presents large bandwidth at mm-wave frequencies. Thermal simulations of the stand-alone radiating structure as well as of the relevant 4 × 4 array are carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the perforations for heat transfer and temperature mitigation.