Enhanced bandwidth, low sidelobe resonant cavity antenna using tapered complementary FSS layers

A novel resonant cavity antenna (RCA) with low sidelobe levels over an enhanced bandwidth is presented. Radiation bandwidth of the antenna is increased by using a pair of complementary FSS layers, giving a positive reflection phase over a wide frequency range, as the proposed PRS. Low sidelobes are achieved by lowering the reflection amplitude of the PRS along its length while keeping reflection phase almost the same throughout the operating band. The performance of the proposed PRS is validated by creating a circular aperture RCA and measuring its radiation characteristics. The cavity is excited by an aperture coupled patch antenna having a broad impedance bandwidth. Prototype RCA gives a peak realized gain of 16.1 dBi and a 3-dB gain bandwidth of 8.6% ranging from 14.5 to 15.8 GHz. Measured sidelobe levels are reduced, respectively, to less than -17 dB and -23 dB in the E- and H-plane of the prototype antenna.