Geometry-Dependent Radiation of Pinching Antennas: Theory, Simulation, and Measurement

TL;DR

This paper explores how the geometry of pinching antennas affects their radiation patterns through simulations and measurements, introducing an arc-shaped design for directional control and validating the importance of geometry in antenna performance.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of geometry-dependent radiation patterns of PAs, introduces an arc-shaped PA for directional control, and validates findings with prototype measurements.

Findings

PA geometry significantly influences radiation directivity

Prototype measurements validate simulation results

Arc-shaped PA enables transmit-direction control

Abstract

Most existing studies achieve beamforming by adjusting the positions of pinching antennas (PAs) and typically model PAs as isotropic radiators. However, under the dielectric scatterer model, the PA radiation pattern depends on its geometry. This letter investigates the radiation patterns of PAs with different geometries through full-wave simulations and measurements, and demonstrates how geometry influences the radiation directivity. In addition, an arc-shaped PA is introduced to enable transmit-direction control in PA systems. A PA system prototype consisting of a dielectric waveguide, waveguide transitions, and a PA element is proposed. Prototype measurements are used to validate the simulations and to characterize the directivity of square and triangular PAs, and the measurement procedure can be applied to obtain radiation patterns for PAs with general geometries. The simulation and measurement results jointly demonstrate that PA geometry is critical in PA systems because it influences the radiation characteristics significantly.