Microwave Photonic Crystals in France

This paper presents a brief overview of recent works in France on microwave photonic bandgap (PBG) materials and their applications to microwave antennas and devices. Antenna radomes consisting of a 1 or 2D dielectric PBG with a small number of layers are seen to substantially enhance the directivity of patch antennas. Electrically controllable PBGs obtained by inserting active elements in metallic structures are shown to open new possibilities for the control of antenna radiation patterns. Recent results on microwave filters are presented.