Design of a metamaterial‐based linear insulated antenna using a genetic algorithm

Recent interest in the application of metamaterials to antenna design has shown some promise in terms of improving the performance of disadvantaged antennas. In this article, we shall consider the design of a linear insulated antenna with a metamaterial coating operating in a lossy surrounding medium. Performance shall be examined for two different embodiments of this antenna using a genetic algorithm as the design tool, and shall address designs based on maximum antenna bandwidth, gain, and gain‐bandwidth product. Practical implementation of such antennas shall also be discussed and some experimental data presented. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2009.