Invasive Weed Optimization and its Features in Electromagnetics

A new numerical stochastic optimization algorithm, inspired from colonizing weeds, is proposed for Electromagnetic applications. This algorithm, invasive weed optimization (IWO), is described and applied to different electromagnetic problems. The linear array antenna synthesis, the standard problem used by antenna engineers, is presented as an example for the application of the IWO. Compared to the PSO, The features of the IWO are shown. As another application, the design of aperiodic thinned array antennas by optimizing the number of elements and at the same time their positions is presented. By implementing this new scenario, thinned arrays with less number of elements and lower sidelobes, compared to the results achieved by genetic algorithm (GA) for the same aperture dimensions, are obtained. Finally, the IWO is applied to a U-slot patch antenna to have the desired dual-band characteristics.