Metamaterial based stepped microstrip line fed quad-band dual-sense circularly polarized slot antenna for wireless applications

Abstract

This research proposes a low-complexity, low-profile square-shaped quad-band dual-sense circularly polarized (CP) perturbed slot antenna with stepped microstrip feed for C-band radar and satellite applications. The proposed antenna is characterized by characteristic mode analysis. The proposed design has a square-shaped slot with diagonally opposite symmetric rectangular corner extensions. Multiband resonance is achieved by exciting the split ring resonator (SRR), cross strips and annular ring structure using the stepped microstrip line-fed slot radiator. The slot antenna and a metallic ring resonate at 1.64 and 8.2 GHz, respectively, showing left-hand circular polarization response, whereas the SRR and cross strips resonate at 3.6 and 6.6 GHz, respectively, exhibiting right-hand circular polarization radiation at these resonance bands. Hence, the proposed design shows quad-band performance with dual-sense CP behavior. Furthermore, the proposed antenna allows for independent tuning of polarization sense at resonance frequencies. The proposed design uses a low-cost FR-4 material as a substrate of dimensions 60 × 60 × 1.6 mm3. The experimentally measured results are in close agreement with the simulated performance parameters of the prototype. © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press in association with The European Microwave Association.