Advanced antennas for next-generation wireless communication systems at millimeter-wave bands

无线载波在射频和微波频段频谱的短缺，促使世界各地的许多研究小组探索未来宽带无线通信系统的毫米波频段。例如，60 GHz左右的免授权v波段提供了57至64 GHz范围内的7 GHz带宽，这为短程无线通信开辟了新的机会。利用这个可用的频段，可以部署各种要求高数据速率的无线应用程序。这些应用包括无线高清视频流、多千兆载波级回程链路、成像、安全、点对点无线数据链路取代光链路、视频/音频传输从/到便携式设备，所有这些都需要提供在Gbps范围内的速度。事实上，在这个频段上运行的无线局域网可以很容易地提供大约1.5 Gbps的数据速率，这将提供诸如在蓝光视频播放器和电视之间传输未压缩视频信号之类的尖端技术。

The frequency spectrum shortage facing wireless carriers at RF and microwave bands has motivated many research groups worldwide for exploring millimeter-wave bands for future broadband wireless communication systems. For instance, the unlicensed V-band around 60 GHz offers a 7-GHz bandwidth in the range from 57 to 64 GHz, which has opened new opportunities for short-range wireless communications. Using this available band, various high-data rate demanding wireless applications could be deployed. These applications include wireless high-definition video streaming, multi-gigabit carrier-grade backhaul links, imaging, security, point-to-point wireless data links replacing optical links, video/audio transfer from/to portable devices, all of which are required to provide speeds in the Gbps range. Indeed, wireless local area networks operating at this band can easily offer a data rate of about 1.5 Gbps, which would provide cutting-edge technology such as the transfer of an uncompressed video signal between a blue-ray video player and a television. However at millimeter-wave bands, wireless communications systems suffer seriously from path loss, presence of user interference and multipath fading problems. To overcome this issues, advanced antennas with high gain, broadband operation, and beamforming capabilities are urgently required. In the same perspective, we propose research program to develop advanced antennas operating at millimeter-wave bands. To realize these challenging designs, we will investigate new artificial electromagnetic materials, including metasurfaces, frequency selective surfaces, electromagnetic gap materials and ridge gap waveguides, and use them to achieve dynamic electromagnetic wave propagation control. Based on these approaches, advanced antennas will be designed and developed in this research program. In conclusion, the proposed research program describes a balanced mix between building on recent successes and pursuing several novel directions of discovery. It will foster focused multidisciplinary research in artificial electromagnetic structures, advanced millimeter-wave antennas, characterization and device fabrication and testing, consistently with specific needs of the high technology in Canadian industry. In particular, it will contribute to (i) design and develop millimeter-wave wideband lens antennas with high gain and beam-shaping capabilities using smart metasurfaces; (ii) study and investigate reconfigurable antennas using agile frequency selective surfaces; (iii) design and implement novel phased array antennas; (iv) explore and develop ridge gap waveguide technology-based antennas, and (v) last but not least, we will train highly qualified personnel to respond to the scientific and technological challenges of modern society.