Microstrip Antenna Design for Cross-Polarization Minimization
Summary
Microstrip antennas are celebrated for their low profile, ease of fabrication and integration with planar circuits, yet they often suffer from unwanted cross-polarisation components that degrade polarimetric purity and system performance. Cross-polarisation arises primarily from asymmetries in current distribution, fringing fields at patch edges and imbalances in the feed network. Minimising these components is crucial in applications such as polarimetric weather radar, satellite communications, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems and 5G base stations, where polarisation discrimination directly impacts data integrity and link reliability. Design strategies encompass tailoring patch geometry (slots, truncated corners or aspect-ratio optimisation), engineering ground-plane features (defected ground structures, electromagnetic band-gap patterns) and adopting advanced feed schemes (aperture coupling, differential feeding or dual-feed networks). Parametric studies of field distributions guide the selection of substrate permittivity, patch dimensions and feed locations to suppress undesired modes. Recent advances have demonstrated the synergy of hybrid cavity-backed configurations and orthogonal differential feeds to achieve wide impedance bandwidths alongside cross-polarisation suppression. Practical realisation involves balancing reduced cross-polar levels against potential compromises in gain, bandwidth or fabrication complexity. The global drive towards compact, high-efficiency, low-cross-polar antennas underscores their significance for next-generation wireless and radar systems, where polarisation purity is paramount for accurate signal interpretation and robust communication links.
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Microstrip Antenna Design for Cross-Polarization Minimization publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in microstrip antenna design for cross-polarization minimization across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Cross-polarisation: Unintended orthogonal field component radiated by an antenna, measured relative to the desired polarisation state.
Co-polarisation: Desired polarisation component radiated by an antenna, aligned with the intended polarisation axis.
Aperture coupling: Feed technique that excites a patch via a slot in the ground plane, offering flexibility in impedance matching and isolation between feed and radiation layers.
Defected ground structure (DGS): Intentional perturbation (slots or patterns) in the ground plane designed to modify current distribution, suppress surface waves and enhance bandwidth or polarisation purity.
Differential feeding: Technique using two equal-magnitude, phase-opposed feed signals to excite a radiating element, yielding reduced cross-polarisation and improved port isolation.
References
- Wideband Dual-Polarized Octagonal Cavity-Backed Antenna with Low Cross-Polarization and High Aperture Efficiency. Sensors (2023).
- Consideration of Engineered Ground Planes for Planar Antennas: Their Effects and Applications, a Review. IEEE Access (2022).
- A Technique to Realize Aperture Coupled Microstrip Patch as a Truly Low Cross-Polar Antenna by Mitigating the Major Issues Over its Skewed Radiation Planes. IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation (2023).
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