Enhanced Antipodal Vivaldi Antenna with SSRR metamaterial for improved 5G performance in the 38 GHz band

This study involves the integration of a compact Antipodal Vivaldi Antenna (AVA) with a square-shaped split ring resonator (SSRR) metamaterial to achieve improved performance, specifically in the 38 GHz band of 5G applications. The compact antenna is fabricated on Roger's substrate 5880 with 20 x 6 x 0.5 mm 3 dimensions. The operational frequency ranges from 34 GHz to 43.8 GHz, catering to the specific needs of the 5G spectrum. To optimize the antenna's performance, corrugations are strategically introduced in the flares of the AVA, resulting in a notable improvement in the front-to-back ratio (FBR) by 18.35 dB. Additionally, square-shaped split ring resonators (SSRRs) are integrated into the AVA aperture, contributing to a gain enhancement of 4.6 dBi. The overall design achieves a gain ranging from 9.2 dBi to 10.4 dBi across the 38 GHz frequency band. The proposed AVA demonstrates good characteristics, with the highest front-to-back (FBR) value recorded at 20.4 dB at 40.6 GHz. The FBR consistently exceeds 15.6 dB throughout the specified frequency range. The antenna design is fabricated, simulated, and experimentally verified, affirming its suitability for compact 5G devices. The results indicate that the proposed miniaturized AVA, incorporating SSRR metamaterial and optimized flare corrugations, is an efficient candidate for compact 5G devices, offering enhanced gain and FBR over the desired frequency band. • Gain enhanced by 4.6 dBi and FBR improved by 18.35 dB with SSRR metamaterial and flare corrugations. • Operates from 34 GHz to 43.8 GHz, covering the key 38 GHz band for 5G applications. • Compact design (20 x 6 x 0.5 mm 3 ) using Roger's substrate 5880 for 5G device integration. • Corrugations and MNG-type metamaterials significantly improve FBR, bandwidth, and gain. • Validated through fabrication, simulation, and experimental results for 5G integration.