Design of high efficiency cylindrical dielectric resonator antenna based on topological photonic crystals

Over the last 30 years, various dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs) have been developed for application in portable wireless communications and millimeter wave systems. However, current methods to feed the antennas suffer from radiation leakage and high losses. In this paper, we propose using a topological photonic crystal (TPC) as an effective feeding method, which can effectively suppress the reflecting loss at the feeder/DRA interface. As a demonstration, we numerically design a DRA with a TPC feeder, operating in a high-order resonant mode at 1.5 THz. Simulation results show that the antenna has a return loss as low as 44 dB, an impedance bandwidth of 3.9%, a maximum gain of 7.4 dBi, and 3dB angular widths of 58 degrees. Over 99% radiation efficiency can be achieved at the operating THz band. The proposed all-dielectric antenna can be suitably used for integrated photonic chips, biomedical applications, and 6G.

Automated summary

In the past three decades, various dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs) have been developed for portable wireless communications and millimeter wave systems. However, current feeding methods suffer from radiation leakage and high losses. In this paper, we propose using a topological photonic crystal (TPC) as an effective feeding method, which can effectively suppress the reflecting loss at the feeder/DRA interface. A numerically designed DRA with a TPC feeder operating at 1.5 THz demonstrates a return loss as low as 44 dB, an impedance bandwidth of 3.9%, a maximum gain of 7.4 dBi, and 3dB angular widths of 58 degrees. Over 99% radiation efficiency can be achieved at the operating THz band. The proposed all-dielectric antenna has potential applications in integrated photonic chips, biomedical applications, and 6G.