Leaky waves supported by a square wire mesh with bonded junctions above a reactive surface

The modal equation of a square bonded mesh of thin conducting wires over a reactive plane is derived and solved numerically by a technique that yields all the roots within a given region of the transverse wave number plane. Phase velocity and attenuation constant of the lowest order leaky wave mode is obtained as a function of mesh parameters, surface impedance of the reactive plane, frequency and direction of propagation. Some features of the radiation characteristics of this structure are mentioned.