By Giampiero Lovat
ESI Special Topics,
October 2007
Citing URL - http://www.esi-topics.com/fbp/2007/october07-GiampieroLovat.html
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 Giampiero Lovat
answers a
few questions about this
month's fast breaking paper in the field of
Computer Science. The
author has also
sent along images of their work.
From
•>>October 2007
Field: Computer Science
Article Title: Analysis of directive radiation from a line
source in a metamaterial slab with low permittivity
Authors:
Lovat, G;Burghignoli, P;Capolino, F;Jackson, DR;Wilton,
DR
Journal: IEEE TRANS ANTENNAS PROPAGAT
Volume: 54
Issue: 3
Page: 1017-1030
Year: MAR 2006
* Univ Roma La Sapienza, Dept Elect Engn, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5,
I-00184 Rome, Italy.
* Univ Roma La Sapienza, Dept Elect Engn, I-00184 Rome, Italy.
* Univ Siena, Dept Informat Engn, I-53100 Siena, Italy.
* Univ Houston, Dept Elect &; Comp Engn, Houston, TX 77204
USA.
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 Why
do you think your paper is highly cited?
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“This paper
sheds light on the radiation mechanism of a
whole class of planar metamaterial antennas
that are receiving considerable attention
thanks to their favorable properties in
terms of low cost, ease of fabrication, and
high performance.” |
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We think that it provides a new and interesting
explanation for the high-directivity effect attainable with
simple planar metamaterial structures, while also providing
insight into the physical phenomena involved.
Does
it describe a new discovery, methodology, or synthesis of
knowledge?
The high-directivity effect obtained with such
metamaterial structures has been previously reported, but it
was not recognized as being due to the excitation of
specific waves supported by the structures, i.e., the
so-called leaky waves. These can be a very effective tool
for the analysis and design of simple highly directive
radiators.
Would
you summarize the significance of your paper in layman’s terms?
This paper sheds light on the radiation mechanism of a
whole class of planar metamaterial antennas which are
receiving considerable attention thanks to their favorable
properties in terms of low cost, ease of fabrication, and
high performance.
How
did you become involved in this research, and were there any
problems along the way?
We have been working in the field of leaky-wave antennas
for years. With the advent of metamaterial antennas, we
realized that some of their properties were likely to be
related to the excitation of leaky waves. From our
investigation it turned out that this was indeed the case.
Where
do you see your research leading in the future?
Towards unemployment, considering the present situation
of the Italian universities. More seriously, this research
may lead to the design of novel antennas based on
metamaterials with additional degrees of freedom and
unexpected properties with respect to conventional designs.
Are there any social or political implications for your
research?
Hopefully not.
Dr. Giampiero Lovat
"La Sapienza" University of Rome
Electrical Engineering Department
Roma, Italy
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A Closer Look...
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Below
are images sent in by Giampiero Lovat which corresponds with the featured
paper, or current research. |
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Figure
1:
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Figure
1: The analyzed structure: a grounded metamaterial
slab made of parallel metal wires (which can be
modeled as a low-permittivity grounded slab),
excited by an electric line source. |
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Figure
2:
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Figure
2: Interpretation of the highly directive
radiation in a low-permittivity grounded slab:
(a) ray-optic explanation (partial model), (b)
leaky-wave explanation (complete model). |
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Figure
3:
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Figure
3: Far-field patterns at three different
frequencies for a structure as in Fig. 1:
Comparison between the exact total field (TF)
and the field due to the excitation of the leaky
wave (LWF). |
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ESI Special Topics,
October 2007
Citing URL - http://www.esi-topics.com/fbp/2007/october07-GiampieroLovat.html
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