A new configuration of printed non-directive surface-wave sources for advanced beam control

An array of surface-wave launcher (SWL) sources is presented for surface-wave (SW) control and beam steering on a grounded dielectric slab (GDS). Specifically, a four element array configuration of non-directive SWLs is investigated. By varying the relative phase difference and magnitude between SWL elements, the excited SW field distribution on the guiding surface can be steered and controlled. Simulations and measurements of a single SWL element are provided along with simulations of the proposed array. If metallic gratings or strips, or additional dielectric layers are placed on top of the GDS, the bound SWs can be transformed into radiated leaky-waves (LWs) and directive beam patterns can be generated in the far field. Examples are provided illustrating that broadside beam steering and circular polarization can be achieved at a single frequency. These slotted SWL arrays can be useful for novel SW beam scanning designs and other LW or cavity based antennas.