A Metamaterial Antenna Based Near Zero Refractive Index(NZIM) Unit-Cell as a Superstrate For Directivity and Gain Enhancement

Abstract

In this communication, we present an enhanced gain and directivity UWB elliptical metamaterial antenna based on the Near Zero refractive Index (NZIM). The operating frequency range is from 3.1GHz to 20GHz. The NZIM superstrate metamaterial has a property thats could collimates the incident radiated wave towards the normal direction because the effective permeability and permittivity of the (NZIM) are optimized to synchronously approach zero, this effects leads the NZIM to have an effective wave impedance matching with air and near-zero index simultaneously. The proposed antenna is simulated and developed using CST microwave. Obviously, the antenna gain and directivity are improved by 6.07 and 5.42 respectively.