Realization of a composite right/left-handed leaky-wave antenna with circular polarization

A leaky-wave antenna (LWA) with circular polarization based on the composite right/left-handed (CRLH) substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) is investigated and presented. Series interdigital capacitors have been introduced into the circuit by etching the slots on the waveguide surface achieving a CRLH functionality. Two symmetrical leaky traveling-wave transmission lines with orthogonal polarizations are placed side-by-side and excited with 90° phase difference generating a pure circular polarization mode. The main beam of this antenna can be steered continuously by varying the frequency while maintaining a low axial ratio (below 3 dB) within the main beam direction. The performance of this LWA is verified through both full-wave simulation and measurement of a fabricated prototype showing a good agreement.