Wideband Magnetoelectric Dipole Antenna Array Achieving up to -30 dBSidelobes: A Bi-Objective Subarray Optimization Approach

Jianhui Huang; Kwai-Man Luk

doi:10.1109/LAWP.2025.3631925

Wideband Magnetoelectric Dipole Antenna Array Achieving up to -30 dBSidelobes: A Bi-Objective Subarray Optimization Approach

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

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Abstract

Amplitude-tapered techniques are widely employed to design antenna arrays with low sidelobe levels (SLLs). However, most of these methods face significant challenges due to the high power-dividing ratios (PDRs) required by unequal power dividers. This letter proposes a subarray-based approach to achieve wideband, low-SLL performance while reducing the required PDRs. An optimal trade-off between peak SLL and maximum PDR is obtained through bi-objective optimization on the PlatEMO platform. As a result, an SLL of - 30dB can be achieved with a maximum PDR of only 4dB, which is approximately 2.4dB lower than the PDR typically required by a Taylor distribution to reach a comparable SLL. Finally, a Ku-band 16 × 16 magnetoelectric (ME) dipole antenna array, featuring a stripline-based unequal power divider and dummy elements terminated with resistors as absorbing loads, has been simulated and fabricated. The measured results demonstrate an overlapping bandwidth of 33.3%, with the standing wave ratio (SWR) remaining below 2, the peak SLL below - 24dB, and the in-band optimal SLL as low as - 30dB. These results represent a significant improvement over most low-SLL antenna arrays.

© 2025 IEEE. All rights reserved, including rights for text and data mining and training of artificial intelligence and similar technologies. Personal use is permitted, but republication/redistribution requires IEEE permission

Original language	English
Number of pages	5
Journal	IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/LAWP.2025.3631925
Publication status	Online published - 12 Nov 2025

Funding

This work was supported by the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong SAR, China, under Grant 9390036 (Funding Body Ref. No.: AoE/E-101/23-N).

Research Keywords

Antenna array
bi-objective optimization
low sidelobe level (SLL)
magnetoelectric (ME) dipole
power -dividing ratio (PDR)
wideband

Publisher's Copyright Statement

COPYRIGHT TERMS OF DEPOSITED POSTPRINT FILE: © 2025 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works. Huang, J., & Luk, K.-M. (2025). Wideband Magnetoelectric Dipole Antenna Array Achieving up to -30 dBSidelobes: A Bi-Objective Subarray Optimization Approach. IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1109/LAWP.2025.3631925

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title = "Wideband Magnetoelectric Dipole Antenna Array Achieving up to -30 dBSidelobes: A Bi-Objective Subarray Optimization Approach",

abstract = "Amplitude-tapered techniques are widely employed to design antenna arrays with low sidelobe levels (SLLs). However, most of these methods face significant challenges due to the high power-dividing ratios (PDRs) required by unequal power dividers. This letter proposes a subarray-based approach to achieve wideband, low-SLL performance while reducing the required PDRs. An optimal trade-off between peak SLL and maximum PDR is obtained through bi-objective optimization on the PlatEMO platform. As a result, an SLL of - 30dB can be achieved with a maximum PDR of only 4dB, which is approximately 2.4dB lower than the PDR typically required by a Taylor distribution to reach a comparable SLL. Finally, a Ku-band 16 × 16 magnetoelectric (ME) dipole antenna array, featuring a stripline-based unequal power divider and dummy elements terminated with resistors as absorbing loads, has been simulated and fabricated. The measured results demonstrate an overlapping bandwidth of 33.3\%, with the standing wave ratio (SWR) remaining below 2, the peak SLL below - 24dB, and the in-band optimal SLL as low as - 30dB. These results represent a significant improvement over most low-SLL antenna arrays. {\textcopyright} 2025 IEEE. All rights reserved, including rights for text and data mining and training of artificial intelligence and similar technologies. Personal use is permitted, but republication/redistribution requires IEEE permission",

keywords = "Antenna array, bi-objective optimization, low sidelobe level (SLL), magnetoelectric (ME) dipole, power -dividing ratio (PDR), wideband",

author = "Jianhui Huang and Kwai-Man Luk",

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doi = "10.1109/LAWP.2025.3631925",

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T2 - A Bi-Objective Subarray Optimization Approach

AU - Huang, Jianhui

AU - Luk, Kwai-Man

PY - 2025/11/12

Y1 - 2025/11/12

N2 - Amplitude-tapered techniques are widely employed to design antenna arrays with low sidelobe levels (SLLs). However, most of these methods face significant challenges due to the high power-dividing ratios (PDRs) required by unequal power dividers. This letter proposes a subarray-based approach to achieve wideband, low-SLL performance while reducing the required PDRs. An optimal trade-off between peak SLL and maximum PDR is obtained through bi-objective optimization on the PlatEMO platform. As a result, an SLL of - 30dB can be achieved with a maximum PDR of only 4dB, which is approximately 2.4dB lower than the PDR typically required by a Taylor distribution to reach a comparable SLL. Finally, a Ku-band 16 × 16 magnetoelectric (ME) dipole antenna array, featuring a stripline-based unequal power divider and dummy elements terminated with resistors as absorbing loads, has been simulated and fabricated. The measured results demonstrate an overlapping bandwidth of 33.3%, with the standing wave ratio (SWR) remaining below 2, the peak SLL below - 24dB, and the in-band optimal SLL as low as - 30dB. These results represent a significant improvement over most low-SLL antenna arrays. © 2025 IEEE. All rights reserved, including rights for text and data mining and training of artificial intelligence and similar technologies. Personal use is permitted, but republication/redistribution requires IEEE permission

AB - Amplitude-tapered techniques are widely employed to design antenna arrays with low sidelobe levels (SLLs). However, most of these methods face significant challenges due to the high power-dividing ratios (PDRs) required by unequal power dividers. This letter proposes a subarray-based approach to achieve wideband, low-SLL performance while reducing the required PDRs. An optimal trade-off between peak SLL and maximum PDR is obtained through bi-objective optimization on the PlatEMO platform. As a result, an SLL of - 30dB can be achieved with a maximum PDR of only 4dB, which is approximately 2.4dB lower than the PDR typically required by a Taylor distribution to reach a comparable SLL. Finally, a Ku-band 16 × 16 magnetoelectric (ME) dipole antenna array, featuring a stripline-based unequal power divider and dummy elements terminated with resistors as absorbing loads, has been simulated and fabricated. The measured results demonstrate an overlapping bandwidth of 33.3%, with the standing wave ratio (SWR) remaining below 2, the peak SLL below - 24dB, and the in-band optimal SLL as low as - 30dB. These results represent a significant improvement over most low-SLL antenna arrays. © 2025 IEEE. All rights reserved, including rights for text and data mining and training of artificial intelligence and similar technologies. Personal use is permitted, but republication/redistribution requires IEEE permission

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KW - bi-objective optimization

KW - low sidelobe level (SLL)

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JO - IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters

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ER -

Wideband Magnetoelectric Dipole Antenna Array Achieving up to -30 dBSidelobes: A Bi-Objective Subarray Optimization Approach

Abstract

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Research Keywords

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Wideband Magnetoelectric Dipole Antenna Array Achieving up to -30 dBSidelobes: A Bi-Objective Subarray Optimization Approach

Abstract

Funding

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

RGC Funding Information

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Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

Fingerprint

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AoE(UGC): Advanced Antenna Technology for a Smart World

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