A Novel Metasurface Superstrate for Mutual Coupling Reduction in Patch Antenna Arrays without Modifying the Array Design

In this article, a metasurface (MS) is placed as superstrate to counteract the effect of mutual coupling in linear antenna array in X-band. The metasurface is single layered and consist of single split ring resonator (SRR) and two I-shaped structures. The proposed metasurface can curb the interactions between adjacent antenna elements by collimating the electric field and reduce horizontal magnetic field interactions due to its negative refractive index and mu-near-zero property. The functioning of metasurface is tested by placing it above a 1×3 patch antenna. The experimental measurement shows an isolation below -25 dB in the 5.12% operational bandwidth with maximum isolation of -38.2 dB for an edge-to-edge distance of only 0.16λo. The active radiation pattern indicates an improved cross-polarization levels to below -30 dB, in both the orthogonal planes. The performance of MS is further tested for a 1×7 linear array where a 9.2 dB reduction in coupling value is observed. On placing the MS on the array there is no change in the operational bandwidth indicating that no modifications is needed in the antenna array geometry making it a preferable and easily transferrable solution to already existing antenna array.