Additive manufacturing of modulated triple-ridge leaky-wave antenna

Abstract : This letter investigates the potential of additive manufacturing for the fabrication of complex antenna geometries with enhanced performance at K-band. Stereolithography is here used to three-dimensionally (3D) print a novel topology of dual-polarized leaky-wave antenna that allows for the control of its aperture illumination both in phase and magnitude. The antenna consists of a modulated triple-ridge square waveguide perforated on its top wall with crossed slots of different sizes. An orthomode-transducer is integrated within the structure for dual-mode operation. Monolithic implementation of this compound 3D structure is only possible thanks to additive manufacturing. In addition, low weight and compactness are attained compared to classical milling. The present proposal is validated through the manufacturing of a low-sidelobe-levels prototype suitable for intersatellite links. The corresponding measured results are in a very good agreement with full-wave predictions.