Fractal patch antenna based on photonic crystal for enhanced millimeter-wave communication in intelligent transportation systems

This paper introduces a Fractal Patch Antenna (FPA) integrated with Photonic Crystals (PhC) designed for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) in the Millimeter-wave bands (mmWaves) given the importance of the application of mmWaves in Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) networks, we assumed, as examples, that the antenna is designed to resonate at three frequency bands: 31.42 GHz, 37.76 GHz, and 38.92 GHz. With a gain of 10.88 dBi, at 38.92 GHz, the antenna demonstrates promising signal reception and transmission capabilities, which are anticipated to be important for ITS operations. The antenna bandwidth covers multiple frequency bands, enabling versatile communication in mmWaves V2X applications. To evaluate the performance of the antenna, we conducted a detailed analysis of its configuration. This included a comparison of the antenna with and without the PhC integration, as well as an exploration of rectangular lattice structure. In addition, variations in hole sizes and spacing were examined to assess their impact on key parameters such as the gain and reflection coefficient. The integration of fractal geometry and PhC structures results in a compact, high-performance antenna suitable for mmWave communication. The integration of fractal geometry and PhC structure results in compactness and high performance in mmWaves communication applications. Through simulation and analysis, including radiation pattern, gain, and reflection coefficient plot assessment, the antenna performance is thoroughly evaluated. The study highlights the potential of the proposed FPA-PhC antenna configuration to enhance communication networks within the ITS, significantly advancing the ITS system with support from the mmWave bands.