Diseño de agrupación de antenas con estructuras metamaterial de tamaño sub-lambda sobre tecnología SIW

Abstract

This research presents the design, modeling, and experimental validation of a high-directivity radiating element array operating in the X-band (9.25 GHz), based on the integration of Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW) technology with subwavelength complementary elliptical metamaterial resonators (CELC), aiming to develop a compact and efficient structure for high-frequency applications. The proposed architecture employs an SIW waveguide that feeds non-resonant slots responsible for exciting the CELC cells, while also incorporating segmented cavities to reduce mutual coupling between elements and suppress higher-order propagation modes, such as TE20. Through a parametric optimization process supported by electromagnetic simulations, the geometric dimensions of the system were adjusted to maximize magnetic coupling, improve power transfer, and enhance radiation efficiency. Experimental validation carried out in the laboratory confirmed the proper operation of the proposed structure, achieving a radiation efficiency greater than 81%, a gain of 10.23 dBi, and a bandwidth of up to 350 MHz, together with an adequate impedance matching reflected by an S11 parameter of -40.68 dB. The discrepancies observed between simulated and experimental results are mainly attributed to manufacturing tolerances, real material losses, and parasitic reactances present in the physical implementation. Overall, the obtained results demonstrate the potential of the SIW-Cavity-CELC structure as a compact and efficient alternative to conventional resonators, while also highlighting its potential for future applications in higher-frequency bands and dynamic metasurface architectures.