Eight-Element MIMO System for Future 5G Applications Based on Modified Rectangular Slot with Enhanced Isolation

This article proposes a new eight-port MIMO antenna array for future LTE band 46 terminals of 5G applications. The Antenna has a simple structure, high isolation, and high channel capacity. The design has a net size of 150×80×1.6 mm3 and is based on zigzag shape slot antennas as radiating elements. Moreover, the self-decoupling and dumbbell slots techniques are used to achieve space and pattern diversities, improving the radiators' isolation value. The antenna operates at 5.45 GHz with 8% fractional bandwidth starting from 5.2 GHz to 5.63 GHz with maximum efficiency and realized gain of 67% and 4.3 dBi, respectively. In addition, the location of this bandwidth inside LTE band 46 can be adjusted around the required resonance frequency. Compared to other works, the antenna has a better isolation value (better than 23 dB). As well as it has good MIMO performance like low ECC (≤ 0.01 dB), high channel capacity (≅42 bps/Hz), acceptable directive gain (9.98 dB), and acceptable Mean Effective Gain values (MEGvar < 3 dB). The results are verified by measuring a fabricated prototype. Acceptable matching is found between the results.