A Negative Index Metamaterial-Inspired UWB Antenna with an Integration of Complementary SRR and CLS Unit Cells for Microwave Imaging Sensor Applications.

Mohammad Tariqul Islam,Norbahiah Misran,Mohammad Rashed Iqbal Faruque,Md Samsuzzaman,Md Moinul Islam

doi:10.3390/s150511601

Mohammad Tariqul Islam, Norbahiah Misran + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/s150511601

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Abstract

This paper presents a negative index metamaterial incorporated UWB antenna with an integration of complementary SRR (split-ring resonator) and CLS (capacitive loaded strip) unit cells for microwave imaging sensor applications. This metamaterial UWB antenna sensor consists of four unit cells along one axis, where each unit cell incorporates a complementary SRR and CLS pair. This integration enables a design layout that allows both a negative value of permittivity and a negative value of permeability simultaneous, resulting in a durable negative index to enhance the antenna sensor performance for microwave imaging sensor applications. The proposed MTM antenna sensor was designed and fabricated on an FR4 substrate having a thickness of 1.6 mm and a dielectric constant of 4.6. The electrical dimensions of this antenna sensor are 0.20 λ × 0.29 λ at a lower frequency of 3.1 GHz. This antenna sensor achieves a 131.5% bandwidth (VSWR < 2) covering the frequency bands from 3.1 GHz to more than 15 GHz with a maximum gain of 6.57 dBi. High fidelity factor and gain, smooth surface-current distribution and nearly omni-directional radiation patterns with low cross-polarization confirm that the proposed negative index UWB antenna is a promising entrant in the field of microwave imaging sensors.

Highlights

At present, microwave imaging sensors are widely used in medical imaging applications such as breast cancer, heart failure and brain stroke detection
A tapered slot UWB antenna was proposed as a sensor for microwave breast imaging [2]
A negative-index metamaterial can be defined as a material with an engineered structure exhibiting electromagnetic properties not usually found in Nature

Summary

Introduction

Microwave imaging sensors are widely used in medical imaging applications such as breast cancer, heart failure and brain stroke detection. There has been huge interest in using microwave imaging antenna sensors for medical imaging owing to the fact that UWB signals offer good penetration and resolution properties. A tapered slot UWB antenna was proposed as a sensor for microwave breast imaging [2]. A negative-index metamaterial can be defined as a material with an engineered structure exhibiting electromagnetic properties not usually found in Nature. These metamaterials can exhibit some extraordinary characteristics such as simultaneous negative permittivity and permeability over a specific frequency range and negative refractive index

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