Recent years have seen a growing interest in a new kind of periodic structures called ``metamaterials'. These new artificial materials exhibit many new appealing properties, not found in nature, and open many new possibilities in the domain of antenna design. This thesis describes efficient numerical tools and methods for the analysis of infinite and finite periodic structures. A numerical simulation code based on the Method of Moments has been developed for the study of both large phased arrays and periodic metamaterials made of metal and/or dielectrics. It is shown how fast infinite-array simulations can be used in a first instance to approximately describe the fields radiated by large antenna arrays or compute transmission and reflection properties of metamaterials. These infinite-array simulations rely on efficient computation schemes of the doubly periodic Green’s function and of its gradient. A technique based on eigenmode analysis is also described, that allows to efficiently compute the dispersion curves of periodic structures. Accounting for the finiteness of real structures is possible in good approximation thanks to a finite-by-infinite array approach. Moreover, the excitation of large finite periodic structures by a single (non periodic) source can be studied by using a combination of the Array Scanning Method with a windowing technique. All these techniques were validated numerically on several examples and it is finally shown how they can be combined to design high gain antennas, based on metamaterial superstrates excited by a slotted waveguide. The proposed design method relies on the separation of the whole structure in two different problems. An interior problem is used to optimize the input impedance of the antenna, while the radiation pattern can be optimized in the exterior problem.

The thesis is focused on the research of THz antenna arrays to be used for communications. Attention is turned to modeling metallic surfaces at THz frequencies, a proper characterization of gold conductivity, its relation to Drude model and corresponding measurements. Moreover, the best methods for modeling thin metallic layers (depending on the skin depth related to the metal thickness) are presented. An optimized element of a THz 2×2 antenna array designed for the application of communications is developed in a way that enables an expansion to a larger array. The expansion ability is demonstrated on a 4×4 antenna array which is presented in the thesis too. The designed antennas achieve parameters better than the state-of-art antennas. The presented antennas radiate circularly polarized wave at THz frequencies, operate in a wide bandwidth, have a high gain and are of a compact size. In the thesis, an 8×8 antenna array with a beam steering capability is presented. The main beam of the antenna array can be controlled in two dimensions. A high gain of the radiated circularly-polarized wave can be achieved that way. Different approaches to modeling antennas with thin metallic layers are compared and the best methods are recommended from the viewpoint of different requirements. The designed 2×2 and 4×4 antenna arrays are manufactured using a microfabrication technology. Each step of the fabrication is described in detail and discussed. The reflection coefficient at the input of antennas is measured and compared with simulations. Discrepancies in results are associated with surface roughness which is analyzed by a scanning probe microscope and a scanning electron microscope. By down-scaling the developed THz antenna, a low-profile high-gain antenna for Ka-band space applications is designed. The presented antenna achieves better results than state-of-art CubeSat antennas. The antenna performance is verified by a prototype to be operated at 9 GHz, and the radiation characteristics are experimentally confirmed.

Research interest: In recent years we have seen the emergence of commercial applications at high frequencies, such as the top part of the microwave band and the millimeter and sub-millimeter bands, and it is expected a big increase in the coming years. This growing demand requires a rapid development of low-cost technology with good performance at these frequencies, where common technologies, such as microstrip and standard waveguides, have some shortcomings. In particular, existing solutions for high-gain planar scanning antennas at these frequencies su er from the disadvantages of these technologies giving rise to high-cost products not suitable for high volume production. Objectives: The main objective of this thesis is to study the feasibility of a new proposal to improve existing solutions to date for low-cost high-gain planar scanning antennas at high frequencies. This overall objective has resulted in another central objective of this thesis, which is the research of new quasi-TEM waveguides that are more appropriate than current technologies for the realization of circuits and components at these frequency bands. These guided solutions make use of periodic or arti cial surfaces in order to con- ne and channel the elds within these waveguides. Methodology: The work follows a logical sequence of speci c tasks aimed at achieving the main objective of this thesis. Chapter 2 presents the proposed guiding solution and shows its performance numerical and experimentally. The optimized design of high-gain antennas based on waveguide slot arrays requires the development of e cient ad-hoc codes. The implementation and validation of this code is presented in Chapter 3, where a new method for the analysis of corrugated surfaces is proposed, and in Chapter 4, which extends this code to the analysis of waveguide slot arrays. The process design and optimization of a two-dimensional array is described in Chapter 5, where a preliminary experimental validation is also described. Moreover, the proposed guiding solution has inspired the development of a new guiding technology of wider bandwidth and more versatile for the realization of circuits and components at high frequencies. Chapter 6 presents the contributions to the study of this technology and its application to the design of circuits. / Alfonso Alós, E. (2011). New quasi-TEM waveguides using artificial surfaces and their application to antennas and circuits [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/11073