A Near-Field Quasi-Optical Measurement Technique for Probe-Fed High-Gain Backside-Radiating Antennas

This contribution presents the measurement strategy to accurately characterize probe-fed high-gain antennas operating in the sub-THz band. First, a near-field technique employing a quasi-optical system is introduced to enable characterization of backside radiating antennas (with respect to the landing pads). The proposed setup employs classical manipulators for probe landing (i.e., above the structure) and linear xyz CNC controlled translation stage. After, the calibration and modelling techniques to allow for an accurate input reflection-coefficient at the antenna input plane, and the estimation of the antenna gain, in a near field planar scanning system, are described in details. The experimental data of an high-gain backside-radiating lens antenna operating in D-band are presented to validate the proposed approach and characterization bench.