Metamaterial Antenna for Microwave Imaging

Abstract

Microwave imaging is a straightforward approach to detect scattering in a detected object. One application of microwave imaging is breast cancer detection, the most prevalent type of cancer in Indonesia and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The planar monopole antenna offers several advantages, including low bandwidth compared to microstrip antennas and a simple structure for easy and affordable fabrication. Metamaterial can be added to the antenna to operate within the ultra-wideband frequency range of 3,1-10,6 GHz. Metamaterial expands the bandwidth and offers advantages such as low fabrication costs and miniaturization potential. This study aims to design a planar monopole antenna with a hexagonal patch using metamaterial. The simulation results show a working frequency range of 3,0699 - 20,779 GHz, while the realized results are 2,6 - 11,3 GHz and 15,2 - 17 GHz. The simulated bandwidth value is 17,7091 GHz, whereas the realized bandwidth values are 8,7 GHz and 1,8 GHz. The return loss values are ≤ 10 dB and the VSWR values are ≤ 2. The gain at the frequency of 7,038 GHz is 1,963 dBi in simulation and 1,698 dBi in realization. Additionally, changes in electromagnetic parameters are observed when the antenna detects cancer.