Modal Analysis of Leaky Modes Supported by Planar Metallic Complex Shaped Corrugations

Corrugated metal planar surfaces enable the realization of a wide range of guiding and radiating devices due to their compact and robust structure. Due to their negligible material losses, these all-metal configurations are ideal candidates for space and aeronautic applications. We present here the dispersive analysis of an all-metal plane featuring complex-shaped corrugations. By means of an in-house method of moments, a dispersive analysis of the corresponding unit cell is performed. The results are compared with full-wave simulations achieved by implementing a full-wave Bloch analysis of the unit cell. Within the same frequency range, both the top and the bottom sides of this structure are analyzed and the corresponding transverse magnetic leaky mode (with respect to the direction of propagation) are presented. Each side of the metallic plane thus supports the design of an all-metal planar antenna, whose maximum broadside directivity can be optimized by properly tailoring the corresponding dispersion.