Millimeter-Wave Leaky-Wave Antenna Based on Topological Heterostructure

This paper proposes a millimeter-wave beam scanning antenna based on topological insulators. The feeding system of this antenna consists of a robust topological waveguide, where energy is coupled from the main waveguide to slots on the top plate to achieve radiation. The paper analyzes the band structure and edge state properties of the topological structure, and based on these findings, designs a leaky-wave antenna structure to radiate electromagnetic waves from the guided wave structure. The results demonstrate that the antenna operates at a frequency range of 27.5 GHz to 31 GHz, with a beam scanning range from − 34° to 7°, and a peak gain of 16.2 dB. Due to its inherent robustness, the proposed topological leaky-wave antenna addresses the radiation loss issues that traditional leaky-wave antennas encounter in the presence of manufacturing tolerances or defects, making it a promising candidate for future communication systems.