Antenna design with the use of photonic band-gap materials as all-dielectric planar reflectors

A finite thickness slab of two-dimensional photonic band-gap (PBG) material is analyzed to determine the plane-wave reflection and transmission coefficients as functions of the angle of incidence. It is shown that within the band-gap, where there is total reflection, the reflection is equivalent to that from a plane surface located within the PBG material (the reflection plane concept). The two-dimensional PBG material is used as an all-dielectric reflector for an electric dipole antenna. Field patterns computed with the use of the reflection plane concept are compared with measurements made on an experimental model and are found to be in good agreement. A three-dimensional PBG material with a BCC lattice is also used as a reflector for an electric dipole antenna. Field patterns calculated for this structure using the finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) method are also in good agreement with measurements.