Mixer-Duplexer-Antenna Leaky-Wave System Based on Periodic Space-Time Modulation

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel space-time modulated leaky-wave system that functions as a full transceiver, enabling mixing, duplexing, and radiation, with demonstrated frequency beam scanning capabilities and experimental validation.

Contribution

It presents the first implementation of a mixer-duplexer-antenna system based on periodic space-time modulation with a detailed electromagnetic analysis and experimental prototype.

Findings

Successful realization of a full transceiver system

Demonstration of frequency beam scanning at fixed input frequency

Experimental validation confirming theoretical predictions

Abstract

We present a mixer-duplexer-antenna leaky-wave system based on periodic space-time modulation. This system operates as a full transceiver, where the upconversion and downconversion mixing operations are accomplished via space-time transitions, the duplexing operation is induced by the nonreciprocal nature of the structure, and the radiation operation is provided by the leaky-wave nature of the wave. A rigorous electromagnetic solution is derived for the dispersion relation and field distributions. The system is implemented in the form of a spatio-temporally modulated microstrip leaky-wave structure incorporating an array of sub-wavelengthly spaced varactors modulated by a harmonic wave. In addition to the overall mixer-duplexer-antenna operation, frequency beam scanning at fixed input frequency is demonstrated as one of the interesting features of the system. A prototype is realized and demonstrated by full-wave and experimental results.