Dual-polarized directional antenna with application to polarimetric radar

We propose a one-dimensional leaky-wave antenna (LWA) fed by two ports which radiates two orthogonally polarized beams corresponding each one to a port. The structure is based on a simple metallic rectangular waveguide whose top surface is drilled with crossed-slots. The waveguide allows the propagation of both the TE₁₀ and the TE₀₁ modes, each one carrying the energy injected by each of the ports. The crossed-shape of the slots has been chosen in order to induce radiation from both modes while preserving their orthogonality. Hence, the antenna cross-polarization levels are kept below -30 dB. This property, together with the inherent frequency scanning capabilities of LWAs, make this one-dimensional antenna a promising candidate to construct two-dimensional arrays suitable for polarimetric radars.