Backward-wave slab with electrically tunable index of refraction

Conference: EuCAP 2009 - 3rd European Conference on Antennas and Propagation
03/23/2009 - 03/27/2009 at Berlin, Germany

Proceedings: EuCAP 2009

Pages: 5Language: englishTyp: PDF

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Authors:
Alitalo, Pekka; Tretyakov, Sergei (Department of Radio Science and Engineering / SMARAD Center of Excellence, TKK Helsinki University of Technology, Otakaari 5 A, 02150 Espoo, Finland)
Alitalo, Pekka; Bongard, Frédéric; Mosig, Juan (Laboratory of Electromagnetics and Acoustics (LEMA), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Bâtiment ELB, Station 11, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland)

Abstract:
In this paper we demonstrate the electrical tunability of a free-space-matched backward-wave slab, composed of three-dimensionally arranged and periodically loaded transmission lines. The host transmission-line network is composed of microstrip lines, whereas the loading is achieved with lumped capacitors and inductors. As the capacitors can be easily replaced by electrically tunable varactors, we study the tunability of the slab, i.e., the tunability of the effective refractive index, and the effect of this tuning on the impedance of the slab.