Introduction to Magneto-Dielectric Materials for Antenna Miniaturization

Magneto-dielectric materials are a newly available class of controlled impedance materials for use in Ultra High Frequency (UHF) and Very High Frequency (VHF) antennas. They possess controlled permittivity and permeability both greater than one, allowing for materials with a high refractive index to be produced. Numerous publications and measurement also support the ability of these materials to miniaturize certain antennas with minimal impact on the bandwidth of the antenna, achieving designs closer to the fundamental limit of electrically small antennas. The addition of permeability to the subset of laminate properties also allows for new antenna constructions and design techniques to be leveraged. However, unlike linear dielectric materials, magneto-dielectric materials exhibit a strongly frequency dependent loss tangent and intrinsic impedance. This drives an increased importance on the characterization and modeling of these materials. This webinar addresses the basics of magneto-dielectric materials and the different considerations which must be understood when designing a miniaturized antenna utilizing these materials.