Broadband antenna array realization with printed meta-elements and its multipoles spectra

A simulated and manufactured broadband antenna array of 2×2 meta-elements operating in the range of 2.5–4.5 GHz is presented. The characteristic size of the aperture of this sample is two wavelengths, but its realized gain exceeds 11.3 dBi in the entire range and reaches a peak of 14.3 dBi at the frequency of 3.2 GHz. Such results become possible by the successful combining electric and magnetic multipoles of the meta-elements, slightly spaced in frequency. As a trade off in accuracy and manufactring costs we use additive manufacturing: 3D printing of meta-elements on a photopolymer printer and subsequent metallization of their surface were involved in the manufacture of the antenna array.