Project Description

In this project, I was heavily involved in the characterization and design of a meta-materials-based patch antenna. My work began with the recreation of simulations for meta-material unit cells in HFSS (High-Frequency Structure Simulator), ensuring that we could replicate results from Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). This step was critical for verifying the accuracy of our designs before moving forward with physical fabrication.

Once the initial simulations were validated, I contributed to designing a directional patch antenna intended to operate around 17 GHz. The unique properties of the meta-material, such as its negative index of refraction, allowed us to explore unconventional antenna behaviors. I worked on integrating these materials into the antenna's dielectric structure and explored disruptions in the periodicity of the meta-material. These changes offered opportunities for beam-steering and widening transmission bandwidth, which were key innovations we aimed to demonstrate.

Additionally, I contributed to the hands-on assembly and testing of the antenna. This included measuring gain characteristics and far-field radiation patterns, which were compared to our simulation data. The iterative process between simulation and experimental results allowed us to fine-tune the antenna's performance. The project also explored potential modifications to the meta-material structure for enhancing functionalities, such as faster roll-off filters and improved beam control.

Overall, my role was crucial in both the theoretical simulation work and the practical aspects of antenna fabrication, bridging the gap between meta-material theory and real-world applications in antenna design.

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