Attractive features of leaky-wave antennas based on ferrite-loaded open waveguides

A complete investigation is presented as regards the performances of a class of leaky-wave antennas which are electronically scannable by varying either frequency or magnetization. The basic topology is derivable from that one of a laterally-open rectangular guide, loaded with a transversely-magnetized ferrite rod. It is seen that the characterization of the radiation properties may suitably be achieved by considering a leaky-wave approach also for this kind of structure. A parametric analysis is then developed, based on an innovative transverse resonance technique, expressly extended to nonreciprocal structures. The phase and leakage constants are derived as functions of the involved physical quantities, thus identifying immediately those conditions that may really be useful in the applications. The relevant radiation patterns are then computed with both rigorous and approximate techniques. It is finally shown that, even with simple isotropic sources, such a topology can present various interesting distinctive features (structural simplicity, wide forward/backward angular beam scannings, etc.).