DoA estimation through modified unitary MUSIC algorithm for CRLH leaky-wave antennas

In this paper, we propose a modified unitary multiple signal classification (MUSIC) algorithm for a two-port composite right/left handed (CRLH) leaky-wave antenna (LWA). The algorithm requires only real-valued operations to estimate direction of arrival (DoA) of the received signals, which will simplify future hardware implementation. The CRLH LWA consists of a cascade of metamaterial unit cells, periodically modulated using varactor diodes. By changing the voltages across series and shunt varactors, the antenna is able to uniformly steer its radiation pattern. The proposed modified unitary MUSIC algorithm uses both antennas' input ports to estimate the DoA. Existing MUSIC implementations requires eigenvalue decomposition in the complex-valued signal subspace, which results in highly complex hardware implementation. The computational complexity can be reduced using our proposed modified unitary MUSIC algorithm since it transforms the complex-valued covariance matrix of the received signals to a real-valued matrix using unitary transformations. The performance of the algorithm is experimentally demonstrated by using a CRLH LWA within an anechoic chamber facility and the estimated DoA results are in good agreement with the predicted angles.