Wideband Microwave Absorber Based on a Two-Dimensional Periodic Array of Microstrip Lines

The modeling and design is presented of a new kind of circuit analogue absorber, which intercepts the electromagnetic waves through a two-dimensional periodic array of microstrip lines loaded with lumped circuit elements. For a plane wave incidence of polarization perpendicular to the strips, virtual magnetic walls are formed between the strips, and the geometry can be divided into many identical unit-cells. We first study the propagation characteristics of the unit-cell using the singular integral equation method. An RC network is then proposed to match this array with the free space and to dissipate the intercepted energy over a wide frequency range. The complete design procedure is explained through a design example that exhibits a bandwidth of 113% while the absorber thickness is less than 10% of the free space wavelength at the lowest operating frequency.