Ka-band metasurface antennas are known for their cost-effectiveness, compactness, and superior beam-steering capabilities, making them ideal for satellite communication applications. However, their design faces significant challenges due to limited satellite resources and atmospheric losses at Ka-band frequencies. To ensure these antennas can operate effectively, wide-angle beam scanning and high antenna gain are necessary, both of which add to the design's complexity. Optimizing such designs involves numerous parameters, increasing computational demands and design time.
In response to these challenges, researchers from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, in collaboration with Tongji University and City University of Hong Kong, have introduced a new design approach. They employed a Physics-Assisted Particle Swarm Optimization (PA-PSO) algorithm to design and manufacture a Ka-band meta-antenna. The PA-PSO algorithm differs from traditional PSO methods by using extremum conditions derived from the variational method to guide the optimization process. This results in faster computations and reduces the likelihood of suboptimal designs.
The study reports that the PA-PSO algorithm achieved a relative strength of 94.62806, comparable to the traditional PSO algorithm's 94.62786. However, the computational cost was significantly reduced, with the PA-PSO algorithm reaching the optimal solution in just 650 iterations, compared to the 4100 iterations required by the traditional method. This efficiency makes the PA-PSO algorithm a valuable tool for tackling complex, multi-objective optimization tasks in meta-antenna design.
Based on the optimized phase distribution, the team created a hexagonal meta-antenna with a focal length of 22 mm, a diagonal length of 110 mm, and a thickness of only 1.524 mm. The antenna features an f-number of 0.2, a beam scanning angle of +/-55 degrees, a maximum gain of 21.7 dBi, and a gain flatness within 4 dB. These features make the design highly applicable to fields such as satellite communications, radar systems, 5G networks, and the Internet of Things.
Research Report:Ka-Band metalens antenna empowered by physics-assisted particle swarm optimization (PA-PSO) algorithm
Related Links
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Space Technology News - Applications and Research
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