Optimization Techniques for Electromagnetic Design with Application to Loaded Antenna and Arrays

Authors: Simone Genovesi , Davide Bianchi , Agostino Monorchio , Raj Mittra

Source: FERMAT, Volume 4, Article 3, Jul-Aug., 2014


Abstract: Rapid development of new communication and radar systems, which require devices with improved capabilities and compliance with many requirements, poses a difficult challenge to the designers of these platforms. In many electromagnetic applications, where a large number of parameters need to be suitably tuned to achieve the desired functionality of a device, analytical solutions are not always available for complex real systems, so that the computational cost of a single analysis can be prohibitive; hence the design strategy has to be very effective and flexible. Optimization algorithms have often played an important role as reliable tools for electromagnetic designs. In this article, we review the main global optimization algorithms applied to electromagnetic (EM) problems, highlighting their most important features and distinctive characters. We also discuss some limits of their application, the evolution of recent paradigms and new research fronts. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of a Genetic Algorithm optimization in improving the performance of a single loaded antenna, and that of an array of dipoles.

Index Terms: Optimization, evolutionary algorithms, genetic algorithm, particle swarm, differential evolution, broadband antennas, scattering parameters, loaded antennas, matching network.


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Optimization Techniques for Electromagnetic Design with Application to Loaded Antenna and Arrays.