Analysis and design of planar periodic leaky‐wave antennas

This chapter focuses on the general properties of planar periodic leaky-wave antennas, and presents an accurate and versatile method for analyzing this class of structures using the method of moments together with a mixed-potential integral equation form of the electric field integral equation. This type of antenna structure consists of a planar periodic metallization on a grounded substrate, and is thus low in profile and simple to fabricate. Depending on the frequency, radiation may occur in either the backward or the forward directions. One important advantage of the proposed method of analysis is that it allows for a complete characterization of the modal propagation on the structure, including all possible propagation and radiation regimes.