Efficient Analytical Design Strategy for High-Gain Nonresonant Partially-Reflective-Surface Antennas

Abstract

Nonresonant partially-reflective-surface (PRS) antennas (PRSAs) offer high-gain performance, but their design typically requires extensive electromagnetic simulations to obtain near-field phase distributions, leading to time-consuming processes, especially for complex or large antennas. This letter presents a novel analytical design method that significantly simplifies the design of phase-correcting surfaces (PCSs) for nonresonant PRSAs. By introducing a new design strategy based on a ray-tracing approach, we derive a set of analytical formulas for two PCS configurations: one utilizing a single superstrate that integrates both PRS and PCS functionalities, and another employing distinct PRS and PCS layers. Using these formulas, we designed two non resonant PRSAs, and both simulated and experimental results demonstrate comparable gain performance to those obtained using Ansys HFSS. This approach reduces the dependence on computationally intensive simulations, offering a more efficient pathway for the design of high-performance nonresonant PRSAs, thereby advancing the accessibility and practicality of antenna design methodologies.