Radiation characteristics of phased antenna array situated under semi-infinite dielectric slab

In many cases, phase antenna arrays are placed under a dielectric slab covering. As a rule, there are metallic constructions in the edge of the slab. Surface waves appear in the dielectric slab, their amplitudes range up to a high value under special conditions. Near the edge of the slab, the surface wave energy is partly radiated and is partly reflected and thus is able to alter significantly the array pattern. An antenna array of finite size situated under the semi-infinite dielectric slab can be taken as a suitable mathematical model for the analysis of this phenomenon. In this case the slab is continued as a perfectly conducting one to the domain, where z<0. A slot antenna of infinite length is used as a radiator of the array, i.e. the considered problem is of a two-dimensional x-kind. It is solved in the approximation of predetermined magnetic currents in slot radiators