Young's Double Slit Method-Based Higher Order Mode Surface Plasmon Microwave Antenna Sensor: Modeling, Measurements, and Application

This article proposes Young's double slit method-based high gain broadband higher order mode spoof surface plasmon leaky wave antenna sensor (SSPLWA) for dual beam and sensing applications. Following and mimicking the double slit principle in microwave frequencies, the proposed surface plasmon leaky wave antenna sensor operating on higher order modes has been successfully measured to obtain a wideband of more than 15 GHz (88.5%) and generate two simultaneous radiating beams toward the endfire direction with a peak gain of 16.6 dBi. The proposed antenna sensor operates in a broad frequency range from 10-25 GHz and maintains a minimum gain of >10 dBi in the whole operating band. The SSPLWA has been tested by designing two prototypes without and with additional horizontal conducting strips so as to improve the overall gain, reflection, and efficiency. The prototype with horizontal strips has been further tested for sensing application, i.e., aqueous glucose solutions and it is found that the proposed dual beam sensor is providing high sensitivity and very stable measurement results in terms of resonance frequency shifts or magnitude variations. The proposed antenna sensor has achieved a high peak efficiency of 95% and can be very useful for dual beam applications and wireless sensing measurements.