Numerical simulations for frequency-selective
screens with complementary elements
H.Wakabayashi
M. Kominami
H. Kusaka
H. Nakashima
Indexing terms: Dielectric substrates, Frequency selective screens, Infinite periodic arrays
Abstract: Frequency-selective screens (FSS) with
conductor and aperture arrays on dielectric sub-
strates called normal and inverse types, respec-
tively, are analysed. In the case of the inverse type
FSS, the moment method is applied in the spectral
domain to the magnetic field equation to get the
magnetic current distribution induced on the
aperture. For the normal type FSS, the electric
field equation is solved and the electric current
distribution on the conductor obtained. Numeri-
cal results are given and the scattering properties
of inverse and normal type FSSs with complemen-
tary elements are considered.
1 Introduction
Frequency-selective screens (FSS) comprise arrays on
dielectric substrates. The FSSs are bandpass/bandstop
filters of electromagnetic waves and useful for the efficient
use of frequencies. The spectral responses depend on
element configulation, element spacing and parameters of
dielectric substrate. The geometry may be used to tailor
the response for a given application. So an analysis of
infinite periodic arrays has been of great importance in
the design of FSSs.
The FSSs are classified as inverse and normal. The
inverse type consists of a periodic array with arbitrarily
shaped apertures and is difficult to analyse [l]. The
problem can be solved by using the electric field bound-
ary condition over the conductor except for the aperture
[2, 31. Due to the number of expansion functions neces-
sary to represent the electric current on the conductor,
the approach has limitations with complicated shapes of
aperture.
The normal type FSS consists of a periodic array with
arbitrarily shaped conductors. Many authors have
analysed the FSS in free space or on a semi-infinite sub-
strate by representing the electric field equation [4-61.
0IEE, 1994
Paper 1322H (Ell), first received 15th September 1993 and in revised
form 11th April 1994
H. Wakabayashi is with the Faulty of Computer Science and System
Engineering, Okayama Prefectural University, Soja, 719-1 1, Japan
M. Kominami and H. Kusaka are with the Faculty of Engineering,
University of Osaka Prefecture, Sakai, 593, Japan
H. Nakashima is with the Glass Research Center, Central Glass Co.
Ltd., Matsusaka, 515, Japan
IEE Proc.-Microw. Antennas Propag., Vol. 141, No. 6, December 1994
But dielectric substrates are used to support the arrays
and modify their spectral responses. Usually by making
the dielectric substrate electrically thin, the effect of
surface waves propagating along the substrate could be
neglected. In practical applications, however, the effect is
important [7].
In this paper, inverse and normal type FSSs of infinite
periodic arrays with apertures and complementary con-
ductors on dielectric substrates are considered. The spec-
tral domain Green's functions for both types FSSs are
derived. For the inverse type FSS, the magnetic current
induced on the aperture can be expressed in a Fourier
series corresponding to Floquet's modes, since the struc-
ture is periodic.
We now derive the magnetic field integral equation
and obtain the magnetic current distribution induced on
the aperture by applying the moment method in the spec-
tral domain to the equation. We analyse the normal type
FSS, using the electric field boundary condition. The
electric current distribution on the conductor is obtained.
The solution is based on the moment method in the spec-
tral domain. The induced magnetic and electric currents
are expanded in piecewise sinusoidal (PWS) basis func-
tions in the direction of current flow to represent arbi-
trarily shaped elements. The scattered fields are
calculated. Then, the differences between the properties of
the inverse and normal type FSSs are investigated. The
responses due to various element configulations are com-
pared and the effects of surface waves and grating lobes
discussed.
2 Theory
2.1 Inverse type FSS
The geometry of the inverse type FSS is shown in Fig. la.
An infinite periodic array of arbitrarily shaped apertures
with periodicities a and b in the x and y directions,
respectively, resides on a dielectric substrate. The sub-
strate has a thickness d and a relative dielectric constant
E,. Let the FSSs be illuminated by an incident wave pro-
pagating from (ei,di)direction, as shown in Fig. IC. The
incident wave is given by
Ei(x, y , z ) = Eioe-jki'
Hdx, y , z) = Hi, e-jkir
where r is a position vector and ki is a propagation
vector of the incident wave. An 8"' time dependence was
assumed, and is suppressed throughout in this paper. The
477
 normalised electric field Ei,takes the form
Ei, = Eio (10 + E, U+ (2)
with
E, = cos a EiO = sin a
where a is a polarisation angle on the plane normal to
the wave propagation direction. M , is a magnetic current
induced on apertures due to the incident wave. Radiation
from the current M , and scattering from the dielectric
substrate yield the electromagnetic fields. The fields in
region 1 (z > 0), 2 ( - d < z < 0) and 3 (z < -d) are (E,,
H,), ( E 2 ,H2)
and ( E 3 ,H3),respectively.
aperture The boundary conditions have to be satisfied as
I t' z = 0:
Y
(E, + Ei- E,) x U, =0 (34
M, (on aperture)
(E, + Ei) x UI =
0 (on conductor) (3b)
dielectric substrate
0

(E, - E3) x U, =0
U, x (H2- H3) = 0
Define
+
k,, = 2np/a k , k,, = 2nq/b + ki, (5)
where ki, and ki, are the x and y components of the
propagation vector k i .
The magnetic current M, induced on apertures can be
expressed in a Fourier series corresponding to Floquet's
modes, since the structure is periodic. The current is
represented by
conductor
t=

x exp { -"&, x + k,, Y ) } (6)

The tilde over a quantity designates the Fourier trans-
form of that quantity. To treat the scattered fields from
dielectric substrate the apertures and from the surface of the dielectric sub-
b strate in a unified formulation, introduce the equivalent
magnetic current M i , given by
t'
Mdx, Y ) = U , x E@, Y, 0)= Mi, exp ( -iki ' 4 (7)

unit
cell
8,
6
I ae
E,
Then, one can treat the scattered fields from the surface
of the dielectric substrate as the radiation from the source
of the equivalent magnetic current. The scattered fields
can be expressed by the Green's functions.
Since the structure considered here consists of homo-
geneous layers, the scattered fields are expressed as
hybrid modes. The Green's functions cannot be written in
a closed-form expression but can be expressed as integral
form in the spectral domain. By using an im@tance
approach [SI, the dyadic Green's functions (81, N2,N 3 )
for the source of magnetic currents are given by eqn. 24
in Section 6.1.
H,, H2 and H3 can be written as

x exp ( - j k l M . r) + a l ( k i x ,kiy)
. M , exp ( - j k l i . r) (8)
I E E Proc.-Microw. Antennas Propog., Vol. 141, No. 6, December 1994
 formulation, consider the equivalent electric current Ji ,
H,(x, Y , 4 = 2
1
c c" &(kXP,
"
I=-= q=-=
kyq)' ~ s o ( k r pky,)
> written as

x exp ( - j k ; p q . r ) + a;(k,,, kyq) Jdx, y ) = Hdx, y , 0) x a, = Jio exp ( -jki . r ) (15)

and the equivalent magnetic current M i in eqn. 7. The
. M,(kx,, kyq)exp ( - j G P q '4) (9) dyadic Green's functions representing the electric fields
" are given bx eqn. 27 in SZctiEn 6.2. Using Green's func-
H3(x, Y, 4 =-
1 "
ab,=-,
c c ,=-"
3 3 ( k X P kyq)
> kyq)
' fiS',(kXP>
tions (RI, K2,$) and ( L , , E,, L3),the scattered fields
can be written as
x exp ( -jk3,, . r ) (10)
1 "
where ( k , , , k:, k J and ( k l p q k&,,
, k3,,) are the wave-
number vectors for the incident wave and the Floquet's
E h Y, 4 = -
ab,=-,,=-,
f $(kx,, kyq)
mode of (p, q), respectively. ' . r ) + { f L k i , , kiy)
Jco(kxprkyq)exp (-Apq
For the inverse type FSS, we represent the magnetic
field integral equation and get the magnetic current on . Ji, + &(kix, kiy)Mio}
exp ( - j k I i r)
the aperture using the moment method in the spectral
domain. The unknown M,(x, y) is expressed in terms of a (I = I, 3) (16)
set of basis functions M,(x, y) with unknown coefficients "
V, . The basis functions M,(x, y) are piecewise sinusoidal
(PWS) in the direction of current flow and uniform in the
E2k Y>4 = ab
1
c"
,=-,
E
(=-"
{&(kxpr kyq)' 9,,(kx,, kyp)
transverse direction to allow for an arbitrarily shaped x exp ( - j G p q 4 )
aperture. In the case of a flat strip, we use one-
dimensional current flow, while in the case of flat plate, + &kxp3 kpq) J,,(k,,, kyq) '

two-dimensional current flow. An aperture is geometri- x exp ( -jk& '4) + { f 2 k i X ,kiJ

cally approximated by a set of small rectangular seg-
ments [SI. In addition, the both sides of the magnetic . Ji, + f ; ( k , , k i y ) . Mia} exp ( - j k & r )
field integral equation (eqn. 3c) are multiplied by M,,, and + {f&, kiY). J;, + f ; ( k x kiY) , . Mi,)
integrated over the unit cell area. The result is
N x exp ( - j k , . r ) (17)
cY,,V,=I, ( m = 1 , 2 ,..., N ) (11) We apply the moment method in the spectral domain.
"=I
The following algebraic equation can be obtained:
N
CZ,,I,=V,,, ( m = 1 , 2 ,..., N ) (18)
"=I

1 " "
Zmn =-
ab ,=-"
1
,=-,
J X k x p , kyq)

where the asterisk designates the complex conjugate. The . &kXP> kyq) ' J"(kXP,kyq)
algebraic equation of eqn. 10 is solved for the unknowns
V, and the magnetic current distribution is determined. V,,, = -J3kix9 kiy) . { E , + %l(kix, kiy)
' To+ f1(kiX> kiY).Mio) (19)
2.2 Normal type FSS We solve for the unknown coefficients I,. The induced
Fig. lb shows the geometry of a normal type FSS. The electric current is obtained once I, are known.
arbitrarily shaped conductors are periodically spaced on
a dielectric substrate.
Let J, be an electric current induced on the conductor 3 Numerical results and discussion
due to a given incident wave Ei and H i , given in eqn. 1.
Since the structure is periodic, the current can be expand- An arbitrarily shaped element is divided into a set of
ed in a Fourier series corresponding to Floquet's modes small rectangular segments and it is necessary to truncate
as eqn. 6. The boundary conditions are summarised as the infinite double-summation series in Floquet's modes
follows when numerical analysis is carried out. So computational
accuracy depends on the size of segment and on the
z = 0: number of Floquet's modes. In the following calculations,
( E , + Ei - E 2 ) x a, = 0 to obtain a numerically acceptable solution for various
(134 element configulations, the number N of the basis func-
J, (on conductor) tions for the case that the side length of segment is less
a, x ( H I + Hi - H 2 ) = (134 than 1/6 of effective wavelength is determined for various
0 (on substrate)
element configulations and the double summation is from
p , 4 = -2oto,p,q= +20.
Z = -d: The magnetic currents induced on the apertures, and
the electric currents induced on the conductors due to the
(E2 - E3) x a, = 0 incident waves, yield scattering fields of all the Floquet's
modes. We treat the reflected and transmitted waves as
x (H2 - H3) = 0
radiation from the induced magnetic and electric cur-
To treat the scattered fields from the conductors and rents. The z-components of the Poynting vectors express
from the surface on the dielectric substrate in a unified the power that flows normal to the interface z = 0, - d .
I E E Proc.-Microw. Antennas Propag., Vol. 141, No. 6, December 1994 419
The following numerical results demonstrate that the
energy error of (reflected power P, + transmitted power
PJ/incident power Pi, is less than lo-' and the energy
flows in the z-direction satisfy the law of energy conserva-
tion. To check the accuracy of the present method, the
calculated result of an infinite array of dipole (length
12.7 mm, width 1.27 mm, a = b = 17.8 mm) in free space
it is compared with the measurement by Ott et al. [6] in
Fig. 2. Since these results are in good agreement, the
present method for the normal type FSS is valid.
frequency, GHz
Fig. 2 Comparison of refection properties of dipole
e, = 1.0; oi = 4( = 1.0"; CI = 0"
_ _ _ _ measured by 0 1 1 et al. [SI
~ calculated in this paper
First, the FSSs with crossed dipoles or the comple-
mentary slots (length 12.7 mm, width 1.27 mm) in free
space are considered. In the following numerical calcu-
lations, it is assumed that the unit cell has the size
a = b = 20.0 mm. In Fig. 3, the power reflection coeffi-
cients (P,/Pin) against polarisation angle a are plotted for
the FSSs. The reflection properties for both cases of the
inverse and normal type FSSs are made complementary
by replacing the polarisation angle a for the first with
(90 - a) for the last in the same figure. In the following,
the incident field is assumed to be a plane wave of either
1.Or
00
0 30 60 90
polarisation angle a .degrees
Fig. 3 Power refection coeflcients against polarisation angle of
crossed elements
E, = 1.0;e, = 4, = 45.0";frequency = 14 GHz
~ inverse type FSS
~ ~ normal _ type_ FSS
480
transverse magnetic (TM) or transverse electric (TE) pol-
arisation. The TM wave has components of the electric
field in the incident plane (a= Oq,while the TE wave has
components of the magnetic field in the incident plane
(a= 90'). We analyse scattering by TE incidence for the
case of the inverse type FSS and TM incidence for the
case of the normal type FSS from the result of Fig. 3. In
Fig. 4, the power reflection coefficients are plotted as a
function of frequency. The reflection properties of the
inverse and normal type FSSs turn out to be complemen-
tary, since the structure are complementary to each other.
In addition, we find that the Green's functions of eqn. 25
for the inverse type is correctly represented and the
present method for the inverse type FSS is valid.
frequency, GHz
Fig. 4 Power refection co@cients against frequency of crossed
elements infree space
E, = 1.0;0, = 4, = 1.0"
~ inverse type FSS
_ _ _ _ normal type FSS
Secondly, we investigate the FSSs with crossed ele-
ments on dielectric substrates (E, = 3.5, d = 2.0 mm). A
theory, based on coupling from Floquet's modes to
surface wave modes on the substrate, is shown to predict
the occurrence of scan blindness in infinite phased arrays
by Pozar et al. [lo]. At blindness, all of the incident
power is trapped in the nonradiating surface wave. In the
case of the FSSs, power trap is also possible whenever the
wavenumber = J(kE + k:) coinsides with the surface-
wave propagation constant B.,. The surface waves are
determined by the poles of the Green's functions of eqns.
26 and 28, as follows
&,yl cos y , d +j y , sin y 2 d = 0
y, cos y, d +j y , sin y, d =0 (20)
2~,y,y, cos y,d + j(E,y: + y : ) sin y,d =0
2y,yz cos y z d j ( y :+ +
y:) sin y 2 d = 0 (21)
Eqns. 20 and 21 show that in the normal type, transverse
electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) surface waves
propagate in pairs, while in the inverse type, even TM
and odd TE surface waves propagate separately. Figs. 5a
and 56 show the reflection properties of crossed elements
against frequency. It is seen that surface waves (SW) and
grating lobes (GL) emerge. The grating lobes occurs at
the same frequency in Figs. 5a and 5b. The properties are
complementary around the resonant frequency but the
scattering properties over the wide range of frequency are
not strictly complementary to each other. The power
IEE Proc.-Microw. Antennas Propag., Vol. 141, No. 6 , December 1994

a a
A
5 0.8-
-
0.0
0.01
4 8 12 1
16 20
frequency, GHz
b b
Fig. 5 Power reflection coefficients against frequency of crossed
elements on a dielectric substrate
6,= 3.5; d = 2.0 mm; 0, = = 1.0
a inverse type FSS
b normal type FSS
reflection coefficients change more complicatedly in the
normal type FSS owing to the difference of the number of
surface modes between the inverse and normal type FSSs.
Finally, the scattering properties of the FSSs with
square loops and the complementary slots with the side
length 12.7mm and the strip width 1.27mm on the
dielectric substrates with E, = 3.5 and d = 2.0 mm show
in Figs. 6a and 6b. The grating lobes occur at the same
frequency in the inverse and normal types, as in the case
of the crossed elements. However, the properties are
much different between the inverse and normal type FSSs
over the wide range of frequency. The surface waves have
greater effects on the normal type FSS. Comparing the
properties of the FSSs with the crossed elements, we find
that the FSSs with square loop elements has a wider fre-
quency band of resonance.
4 Conclusion
Scattering from infinite periodic arrays with conductors
and complementary apertures on a dielectric substrate
has been investigated. We introduced the spectral domain
Greens functions for the inverse and normal type FSSs.
We applied the moment method in the spectral domain
to the magnetic and electric integral field equations. We
examined some characteristics by numerical calculations.
For the arrays in free space, the reflection properties of
IEE Proc.-Microw. Antennas Propag., Vol. 141, No. 6, December 1994
3Y 0.4 -
aJ
!L
r yv
0.0 12 t t tsw
I
16 20
frequency,GHz
Fig. 6 Power reflection co@cients against frequency of square loop
elements on a dielectric substrate
E. = 3.5; d = 2.0 nun; 0, = 4, = 1.0
a inversc type FSS
b normal type FSS
the inverse and normal type FSS are complementary to
each other. For the arrays on dielectric substrates, they
are complementary around that resonant frequency but
the properties over the wider range of frequency are not
complementary owing to the effects of the dielectric sub-
strate. The power reflection coefficients change more
complicatedly in the normal type FSS owing to the
effects of the surface waves.
5 References
1 IRIMAJIRI, Y., TAKANO, T., and TOKUMARU, M.: Frequency
selective surfaces for radio astronomy - characteristics of 40/80
GHz FSS, Trans. Inst. Electron. & Common. Eng. Jpn., 1990, J 7 3 5
11, (l), pp. 20-26
2 RUBIN, B.J., and BERTONI, H.L.: Reflection from a periodically
perforated plane using a subsectional current approximation, IEEE
Trans., 1983, AP-31, (6), pp. 829-836
3 MITTRA, R., CHAN, C.H., and CWIK, T.: Techniques for analyz-
ine freuuencv selective surfaces - a review, Proc. IEEE. 1988, 76,
(IT), p i 159i-1615
4 CWIK, T.A., and MITTRA, R.: Scattering from a periodic array of
freestanding arbitrarily shaped perfectly conducting or resistive
patches, IEEE Trans., 1987, AP-35, (ll), pp. 1226-1234
5 CHAN, C.H., and MITTRA, R.: On the analysis of frequency-
selective surfaces using subdomain basis functions, IEEE Trans.,
1990, AP-38,(l), pp. 40-50
6 OTT, R.H., KOIYOUMJIAN, R.G., and PETERS, L.: Scattering
by a two-dimensional periodic array of narrow plates, Radio Sei.,
1967.2, (New Series), (Il), pp. 1347-1359
481
 7 WAKABAYASHI, H., KOMINAMI, M., and SAWA, S.: 'Scat-
tering from a periodic array on a dielectric substrate'. Proceedings
of ISAP'92, 1992.384-1, pp. 737-740
8 ITOH, T., and MENZEL, W.: 'A full-wave analysis method for
open microstrip structures', IEEE Trans., 1981, AP-29, (I), pp. 63-
68
9 GLISSON, A.W., and WILTON, D.R.: 'Simple and efficient
numerical methods for problems of electromagnetic radiation and Transform the (U, U) co-ordinate system into the (x, y )
scattering from surfaces', IEEE Trans., 1980, AP-28, (S), pp. 593- co-ordinate again. By using the dyadic Green's functions
603
10 POZAR, D.M., and SCHAUBERT, D.H.: 'Scan blindness in infinite for the sources of the magnetic current, the magnetic
phased arrays of printed dipoles', IEEE Trans., 1984, AP-32, (6), fields f i x and fi, in each region are
pp. 602-610

6 Appendix
where
6.1 Spectral domain Green's functions for inverse
type Rlxx= Y,, cos' [ + yb, sin' [
In this Section the dyadic Green's functions representing
the magnetic fields is derived for structure in Fig. la. The Nlxy= (Y,,- &,) sin [ cos [
hybrid fields are expressed in terms of superposition of Rlyx= R,,, R,,, = Y,, sin2 [ + Y,, cos' [ (26)
TM and TE components. A formulation process called
the immittance approach [SI enables an easy solution for
the multilayer structure by decoupling the TM and TE 6.2 Spectral domain GreenS functions for normal
components. We draw equivalent circuits for the TM and
TE fields as shown in Fig. 7 . The circuits satisfy the type
By using the Green's functions for the electric currents
zrnl.Yt zel.Yl [3] and the magnetic currents, the electric fields E,, and
E,, are written as
I;[ = I;[ E;[]; 4 [;;;I[ I;
+
(I = 1, 2*, 3) (27)
where
KlXx= z,, cos' [ + z,, sin2 [
-
K,,, = (Zol - Z,,) sin [ cos [
R,,, = E,,, R,,, = z,, sin2 + z,, cos2
Zrn3.Y3 *e2.Y3
Elxx= -(c,,,+ c,,)sin cos
a b E,,, = c,, cos' - c,, sin' [
Fig. 7
a TM mode
Spectral domain equivalent circuits for inverse type
E,,, = - C,, sin' [ + Cblcos' [ E,,, = -Elxx (28)
b TE mode

boundary conditions of eqn. 3a, c and 4a, b. The charac-

teristic impedances in the Ith region are

z,, = -
Yl z,, = -
W l (I = 1, 2, 3)
W Yl

The magnetic fields fi, and A,in each region are related

482 IEE Proc.-Microw. Antennas Propag., Vol. 141, No. 6, December 1994