Design of MIMO antenna for 6G applications supported by fractal geometry

In this paper, a microstrip patch antenna is designed and proposed in a 2 × 2 MIMO configuration for use in 6G wireless communications in upper mid-band like 7.125-8.4 GHz. The design of the antenna is imposed on a dual fractal geometry strategy to improve performance parameters. The first aspect of the geometry uses a circular fractal structure of up to four iterations, and the second aspect uses a circular slot to adjust the radiating patch. The application of fractal geometry aids in enhancing circuit properties, and a partial ground plane is utilized to improve bandwidth and provide stable gain over the operating frequency range. The antenna has a wideband response of 5.25 to 11.3 GHz, and it is appropriate for future 6G systems. The gain of the antenna is between 2 dB and 3.6 dB over the band. Performance analysis entails S-parameters, radiation patterns, and important MIMO parameters like Envelope Correlation Coefficient (ECC), Channel Capacity Loss (CCL), Total Active Reflection Coefficient (TARC), and Mean Effective Gain (MEG) that are all within acceptable levels. An equivalent circuit model of the antenna is also created to aid the design. Despite slight mismatches between calculated and measured values due to excessive soldering during processing, the overall performance is still acceptable and can be optimized with accurate fabrication processing. The proposed design is also useful for the following 5G NR band: n47 band (5.855-5.925 GHz), n96 band (5.925-7.125 GHz), n102 band (5925-6425 GHz), and n104 band (6425-7125 GHz).