A Reconfigurable and Steerable Horn Antenna Using Plasma Dielectric Slabs for Controllable Gain and Beam Steering

Abstract

This paper presents a novel approach for designing a reconfigurable and steerable antenna utilizing plasma dielectric slabs along the aperture of a pyramidal horn antenna. The antenna provides electronic control over the radiation gain and the direction of the main beam. The proposed configuration consists of four plasma slabs aligned perpendicular to the horn aperture along the horn axis, supplemented by four diagonally connected plasma slabs. Each plasma slab can be independently switched on or off, enabling dynamic adjustment of the radiation gain and steering of the main beam.Numerical investigations demonstrate that toggling the plasma slabs or controlling the plasma frequency allows precise control over the pyramidal horn antenna's radiation gain and beam steering. Selecting appropriate dimensions and angles for the plasma slabs is crucial in achieving the desired beam steering angle and radiation gain control. To validate the concept, the proposed antenna configuration is designed and numerically simulated at a frequency of 10 GHz. The results indicate that the radiation gain of the antenna can be significantly enhanced, reaching up to 6.5 dBi, and the main beam direction can be steered within a range of ±12°.This research presents a promising approach for achieving reconfigurability and beam steering capabilities in antenna systems by utilizing plasma dielectric slabs. The proposed design offers enhanced performance and flexibility, making it suitable for various applications in antenna technology. The ability to control beam steering and radiation gain without mechanical devices is essential in satellite and space communications.

Keywords

• horn antenna: dielectric plasma slabs: beam direction: gain control : reconfigurable antenna: beam steering antenna