Mutual coupling mitigation and bandwidth enhancement in 2×1 array using feed point modification and metamaterial superstrate

Mutual coupling (MC) is an inevitable problem which arises while designing an array, especially when the spacing between elements is kept lower than half-wavelength, as in phased array applications. In this paper, starting with a conventional patch antenna, a horseshoe-shaped slot etched patch antenna is developed to enhance the inter-element isolation in a 2×1 array. Then, a metasurface as a superstrate is proposed to mitigate the MC between antenna elements in an array. With the given solution, we have been able to achieve the best case isolation of 35 dB.