Towards a methodology for conformable antenna design

Metamaterial particles are essentially electrically-small radiators with polarization dependency. Previous works on metamaterials were concerned primarily with using such particles to achieve homogeneous media that enabled unconventional propagation. The metamaterial radiators are inefficient if used in isolation, however, if used as an ensemble, they, collectively, radiate efficiently. This suggests their use as antennas. Because of their electrically-small size, metamaterial elements can be considered as Huygens radiators. With this perspective, a systematic procedure for designing directional and efficient antennas can be developed as we demonstrate here. Furthermore, the new perspective and technology can provide conformable antennas for non-planar platforms.