A compact square-shaped left-handed passive metamaterial with optimized quintuple resonance frequencies for satellite applications

The research aims to develop a more sophisticated novel left-handed and compact square-shaped metamaterial (SM) inspired multi-frequency bands like C-, X- and Ku-band applications. Even though the performance of existing satellite application devices are adequate, significant changes in technology over the past decades require advanced and more accurate techniques or devices. Hence, we approach the problem with a broader perspective by integrating a metamaterial structure in satellite application devices. As a general rule, the unconventional material known as metamaterial has extraordinary electromagnetic properties which are impracticable in commercially available materials. It represents an important study topic because this type of peculiar material is generally used in many field applications which encouraged us to experiment with the stated frequency bands by introducing a novel SM design. The novel SM design structure involved a 1.6 mm Epoxy Resin Fibre (FR-4) substrate material. This compact metamaterial design contains nine square rings with an altered small square ring joined in it. The numerical simulation of the SM design for satellite frequencies was performed using the Computer Simulation Technology (CST) Microwave Studio. The scattering parameters of the suggested SM design were determined by utilising Finite Integration Technique (FIT) in CST software. Several parametric studies that were analysed in this study include various design structure, types of substrate materials and SM array arrangement. Based on the adapted simulated frequency range (4 to 18 GHz), the unit cell SM exhibited five resonance frequencies at 5.49 and 7.33 GHz (in C-Band), 9.05 and 11.38 GHz (in X-Band) and 13.48 GHz (in Ku-Band). The measured resonance frequencies of the unit cell were 5.62 and 7.39 GHz (in C-Band), 9.15 and 11.32 GHz (in X-Band) and 13.51 GHz (in Ku-Band). The resonance frequencies obtained from both methods were similar. According to all three resonance frequencies, the SM design manifested a left-handed characteristic. Hence, on this basis, the proposed SM design with unique characteristics is deemed suitable for C-, X- and Ku-bands applications.