Application of Electrically Invisible Antennas to the Modulated Scatterer Technique
Abstract
The modulated scatterer technique (MST) has shown promise for applications in microwave imaging, electric field mapping, and materials characterization. Traditionally, MST scatterers are dipoles centrally loaded with an element capable of modulation (e.g., a p-i-n diode). By modulating the load element, signals scattered from the MST scatterer are also modulated. However, due to the small size of such scatterers, it can be difficult to reliably detect the modulated signal. Increasing the modulation depth (MD; a parameter related to how well the scatterer modulates the scattered signal) may improve the detectability of the scattered signal. In an effort to improve the MD, the concept of electrically invisible antennas is applied to the design of MST scatterers. This paper presents simulations and measurements of MST scatterers that have been designed to be electrically invisible during the reverse bias state of the modulated element (a p-i-n diode in this case), while producing detectable scattering during the forward bias state (i.e., operate in an electrically visible state). The results using the new design show significant improvement to the MD of the scattered signal as compared with a traditional MST scatterer (i.e., dipole centrally loaded with a p-i-n diode).
Recommended Citation
D. A. Crocker and K. M. Donnell, "Application of Electrically Invisible Antennas to the Modulated Scatterer Technique," IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, vol. 64, no. 12, pp. 3526 - 3535, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Dec 2015.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1109/TIM.2015.2454671
Department(s)
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Keywords and Phrases
Antennas; Diodes; Electric fields; Modulation, Electric field mapping; Materials characterization; Microwave imaging; Modulated scatterer; Modulated scatterer technique (MST); Modulation depth; Scattered signals; Simulations and measurements, Forward scattering; Dual-loaded scatterer (DLS); invisible antennas; modulation depth (MD)
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
0018-9456; 1557-9662
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2015 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Dec 2015
