Metamaterial-Based Electrically Small Antenna

Metamaterials have unusual electromagnetic properties such as backward wave propagation, negative refraction, subwavelength resolution imaging and tailor made refractive index, which allow for several novel applications such as electrically small, low profile and leaky wave antennas. These metamaterials offer significant promise in meeting the demanding N-UCAS antenna requirements, surveillance sensors, communication links, navigation systems, command and control systems. Notable NIM include resonant metamaterials, photonic crystals and planar periodic arrays of passive lumped circuit elements. Surmet will demonstrate innovative design and use of metamaterials to produce tunable electrically small antennas. Key Phase I objectives are: a) to design and develop electrically small antenna element suitable for phased array applications demonstrate its performance characteristics; and b) mitigate electromagnetic interference using metamaterial as a magnetic ground plane surrounding the antenna. Surmet has teamed with a renown expert in metamaterials area, and will use internal specialized thin film fabrication capabilities to experimentally prove the concept. The Phase II program will involve team-up with a Navy antenna systems prime contractor. Phase II will scale up the technology and build and test antennas per J-UCAS requirements. This will lay a foundation for Phase III commercialization effort to start technology insertion activities.