Compact dual-slot antenna with enhanced bandwidth for multi-band wireless and satellite systems

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents a compact, orthogonally placed 2-port MIMO antenna optimized for next-generation wireless and satellite communication systems. A key challenge in MIMO antenna design—mutual coupling between radiating elements—is addressed through an effective decoupling strategy, achieving isolation levels better than − 30 dB across the entire operating band. The proposed antenna exhibits dual resonances: the first at 1.6 GHz, covering a wide frequency range from 0.7 GHz to 8.6 GHz with a fractional bandwidth of 170.1%, and the second at 12.6 GHz, covering 12.0 GHz to 15.4 GHz with a fractional bandwidth of 24.82%. These bands collectively support applications such as GPS, ADS-B, X-band radar, and Ku-band satellite communications. The antenna demonstrates a peak gain of 4.9 dB with an overall footprint of only $$0.2 \times 0.2 \times 0.002\lambda^{3}$$ at 1.6 GHz. A detailed performance evaluation—including isolation, far-field radiation patterns, realized gain, envelope correlation coefficient (ECC), mean effective gain (MEG), and total active reflection coefficient (TARC)—confirms the antenna’s wideband operation, low correlation, and suitability for high-capacity, interference-resilient MIMO systems.