Application of metamaterials in antenna array

In order to restrain the surface wave and reduce the coupling effects of the antenna array elements, the application of metamaterials in the antenna design is studied for restraining the coupling effects. The split-ring resonator (SRR) units are loaded at the antenna arrays, and the design method to set negative materials in the antenna array for restraining coupling effects is proposed based on the characteristics of SRR. From the simulation results, it shows that the loaded SRR unit could make the coupling coefficient reduced 8.8 dB at the resonance frequency of the antenna array, i.e, the coupling coefficient is reduced to-25.1 dB from-16.3 dB. But it does not cause even effects to the gain and direction pattern of the antenna array, and these parameters could meet the engineering requirements. The research offers the theory sustaining to the design of low coupling antenna arrays.