Fabry–Pérot Resonator Antenna With High Aperture Efficiency Using a Double-Layer Nonuniform Superstrate

Abstract

Due to the nonuniform electromagnetic (EM) field amplitude distribution over its aperture, the Fabry–Perot resonator antenna (FPRA) suffers from relatively low aperture efficiency. In this communication, an FPRA with high aperture efficiency is proposed based on a double-layer nonuniform superstrate (DNS). The DNS is designed to have a constant reflection phase but a varying reflection magnitude, thereby obtaining a uniform EM field amplitude distribution over the FPRA’s aperture and, hence improving the directivity and the corresponding aperture efficiency. As an example, a cylindrical FPRA with an aperture diameter of $3.5~\lambda $ (where $\lambda $ is the wavelength in free space) is presented. In comparison with a uniform superstrate, the proposed DNS enhances the FPRA’s directivity from 19.6 to 20.4 dBi and correspondingly improves the aperture efficiency from 76.3% to 91.7%.