Development of multiple split ring resonator based metamaterial for multiband satellite applications

Abstract

Satellite application has transformed the communications between people globally. However, with the increasing connection between the technologies, there are certain limitations occurred that remain concerned such as the efficiency of the technology, high cost, interference of waves and narrow bandwidth. The existing materials used for the satellite technology has the deficiency commonly in terms of size and propagation delay. Metamaterial is known to have unusual properties and tuneable structure which can improve the performance of the satellite band applications. The development of SRR metamaterial for multiband satellite applications allowed to reduce the cost. This thesis is conducted to design, analyse and develop new multi split ring resonators with different structural designs in which focusing on left-handed metamaterial, reduce the size of the unit cell metamaterial and achieve higher effective medium ratio (EMR). Moreover, the thesis highlights the three new structures of multi split-ring resonators based on metamaterial which have been developed for multiband satellite applications. Computer Simulation Technology (CST) Microwave Studio electromagnetic simulator has been utilized for numerical simulation to design and analyse the metamaterial structure. Meanwhile, the robust method is utilized to retrieve the effective medium parameter using MATLAB. The fabrication and measurement processes are carried out to validate the effectiveness of the split ring resonator (SRR) metamaterial structure. The design procedure and method used for the three designs are significantly similar. Firstly, an octagonal SRR double negative metamaterial with the unit cell size of 9 × 9 × 1.6 mm³ is designed for S-band (3.31 GHz), X-band (8.60 and 11.93 GHz) and Ku-band (12.99 GHz) applications. Secondly, an oval-square shaped SRR with the unit cell size of 9 × 9 × 0.508 mm³ is invented for C and X band applications with the frequencies operated at 5.52 GHz and 8.81 GHz, respectively. Finally, SRR with crossed resonator metamaterial with the unit cell size of 10 × 10 × 1.6 mm³ has been developed for S-band (3.20 GHz), C-band (6.05 and 7.97 GHz), X-band (9.47 GHz) and Ku-band (14.72 and 16.78 GHz). The simulated result for the designed metamaterials are corresponded to the measured results. The structure of the first and second metamaterial design is complicated, hence, the third design has been produced with a preferable results. The designed metamaterials are miniatured considering that the EMR value is higher than 4, which are 10.07, 6.03 and 9.38. Therefore, with the affirmative results shown, the proposed metamaterial structures are believed will be added advantages for the multiband satellite applications.