The NASCERE project launches a (joint) PhD scholarship entitled: Study of Medium-Sized Multi-band Antenna Arrays for 5G Communications

In the antenna industry, there is a huge interest in new antenna concepts that are able to support all the communication bands planned for 5G Systems. For single radiators, there are already solutions. Multiple antenna elements and integrated antenna structures are already being used to cover multiple bands. However, when a smaller array is concerned (6 - 8 elements), like for example in mobile communication base stations, the fact that the wavelength varies considerably over these bands poses a huge challenge for the array design. Since the electrical distance between the elements, i.e. the physical distance expressed in wavelengths, may strongly vary, classical array antenna design techniques cannot be used any more. The goal of this thesis is to thoroughly investigate this challenge and to propose solutions. Routes to investigate are the use of more complex elements in the array, and even completely new array architectures with different “element' topologies at different locations in the array.