Metamaterials and RF Systems:
The goal of this project is to synthesize alternative metamaterial structures and develop a new methodology through which the synthesized structures could be used to enhance the performance of RF components such as antennas, waveguide filters and transmission lines. The project also involves developing new algorithms and designing smart metamaterial structures.
Reconfigurable Microstrip Leaky-wave Antennas:
Microstrip leaky wave antennas are antennas that radiate energy as a current wave propagates along their axial direction. One of the characteristics of leaky wave antennas is that the angle of the main beam of radiation is frequency dependent (changing the frequency changes the direction of the main beam). One efficient and innovative approach to overcome the frequency dependence of the main beam is as presented in our paper "A reconfigurable microstrip leaky-wave antenna with a broadly steerable beam". In our proposed approach ....
Tunable Cavity Resonators:
The objective of this project is to design a resonator with the capability to automatically alter its resonant characteristics in response to changes in its environment without altering the resonators' physical dimensions or degrading its Q. A system of tuning wires is inserted into the resonator and attached to the inner surface of one or more walls through computer-controlled switches. By opening and closing the switches, the fields within the resonator are altered, and thus the resonant frequency can be changed.
Tunable Electromagnetic Shutter:
In this project, the goal was to design a surface capable of adjusting its transmissivity to be either transparent or opaque to incident electromagnetic waves over a broad frequency spectrum. The proposed adjustable surface is a slotted metallic surface with computer controlled switches placed across the slots. By opening and closing the switches the transmissivity of the surface can be adjusted into open and closed states, creating an electronically-controllable EM shutter.