Exploring half-mode groove gap waveguide performance and advantages

In this communication, a half-mode waveguide based on Gap Waveguide technology for rapid prototyping is presented. A power divider is de-signed for demonstration purposes. The power divider is constructed from two non-contacting metal pieces. The horizontally-polarized power divider is housed in the bottom piece. The height of the groove is about half that which would be required to propagate the fundamental mode. The top cover is a uniform pinned surface that acts as a High Impedance Surface (HIS) over the groove of the bottom plate. The simulated reflection coefficient shows values of less than -15 dB in the bandwidth of interest (28 to 31 GHz). This design stands out for its ease of fabrication and opens a horizon for cheaper and more robust GW designs for mass production.