Improvements of the radiation performance in leaky-wave antennas with gyrotropic media

This work investigates the capabilities of reaching excellent radiative performances with new topologies of leaky-wave antennas employing gyrotropic media. Based on previously-recognized attractive radiation characteristics in simple antenna configurations (such as a transversely-magnetized ferrite grounded slab or a laterally ferrite-loaded open rectangular waveguide with a current-line excitation), significant enhancements are suggested and tested here. In particular, it is seen that the use of multiple-layered structures gives additional desirable features for practical purposes: our analysis shows that, by properly choosing the geometrical and physical parameters, it is possible to conveniently modify the phase and leakage properties of this kind of radiators, thus obtaining substantial improvements as regards the characteristics of the radiation patterns.