Compact Leaky-Wave SIW Antenna With Broadside Radiation and Dual-Band Operation for CubeSats

This letter presents a substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW) antenna for CubeSat applications. The compact structure utilizes middle-point feeding and shorting walls to achieve broadside radiation in the far-field at two distinct frequencies. In particular, this dual-frequency behavior is related transition from dominant leaky wave (LW) on aperture lower frequencies more hybrid (at higher frequencies) due LW fields resonance truncation. response generated by vias lateral ends of SIW antenna. Given these conditions, developed leaky-wave (LWA) prototype well matched ( $|S_{11}|$ notation="LaTeX">$\leq$ −10 dB) 23.2 23.5 GHz 24.8 25.2 with realized gains 8 6 dBi, respectively. Maximum efficiency (including connector) around 87%. Such operation could enable up-link down-link K-band. Overall dimensions are 2 notation="LaTeX">$\lambda _0$ × 2.6 frequency). Possible placement CubeSats can be underneath solar panels, thus increasing available surface area power harvesting. Also, best knowledge authors, no similar SIW-LWA has been previously reported.