Novel microwave network for the leaky-wave analysis of evanescent fields in stub-loaded structures

In this paper, a new transverse equivalent network for the modal analysis of stub-loaded leaky-wave antennas is developed. The derived network is useful for the study of the radiation of evanescent fields that occurs when they reach the top aperture of the parallel-plate stub. This transverse network is based, for the first time, on a nonhybrid formulation of the constituent parallel-plates modes of order 1 (TE1 Z and TM 1 Z). The obtained network is an alternative to the one based on hybrid TE1 Y and TM1 Y modes, and leads to a simpler transverse resonance equation. The new equivalent network is validated by obtaining leaky-mode dispersion curves for a previously studied leaky-wave antenna in non-radiative dielectric guide technology. © 2008 IEEE.