Fabry–Pérot Resonator Antenna With High Aperture Efficiency Using a Double-Layer Nonuniform Superstrate

Due to the nonuniform electromagnetic (EM) field amplitude distribution over its aperture, the Fabry-Pérot resonator antenna (FPRA) suffers from relatively low aperture efficiency. In this communication, an FPRA with high aperture efficiency is proposed based on a double-layer nonuniform superstrate (DNS). The DNS is designed to have a constant reflection phase but a varying reflection magnitude, thereby obtaining a uniform EM field amplitude distribution over the FPRA's aperture and, hence improving the directivity and the corresponding aperture efficiency. As an example, a cylindrical FPRA with an aperture diameter of 3.5 λ (where λ is the wavelength in free space) is presented. In comparison with a uniform superstrate, the proposed DNS enhances the FPRA's directivity from 19.6 to 20.4 dBi and correspondingly improves the aperture efficiency from 76.3% to 91.7%.