Wideband Magnetoelectric Dipole Antenna Array Achieving up to −30 dB Sidelobes: A Biobjective Subarray Optimization Approach
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Amplitude-tapered techniques are widely employed to design antenna arrays with low sidelobe levels (SLLs). However, most of these methods face significant challenges due to the high power-dividing ratios (PDRs) required by unequal power dividers. This letter proposes a subarray-based approach to achieve wideband, low-SLL performance while reducing the required PDRs. An optimal trade-off between peak SLL and maximum PDR is obtained through bi-objective optimization on the PlatEMO platform. As a result, an SLL of$-$30dB can be achieved with a maximum PDR of only 4dB, which is approximately 2.4dB lower than the PDR typically required by a Taylor distribution to reach a comparable SLL. Finally, a Ku-band 16 × 16 magnetoelectric (ME) dipole antenna array, featuring a stripline-based unequal power divider and dummy elements terminated with resistors as absorbing loads, has been simulated and fabricated. The measured results demonstrate an overlapping bandwidth of 33.3%, with the standing wave ratio (SWR) remaining below 2, the peak SLL below$-$24dB, and the in-band optimal SLL as low as$-$30dB. These results represent a significant improvement over most low-SLL antenna arrays.
Authors: Jianhui Huang, Kwai-Man Luk
Institution: City University of Hong Kong
Language: English
Subfield: Aerospace Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4416148775