Slow-wave Filters for Millimeter Wave Inter-Satellite Services in Small Satellite Formations

Abstract

This work focuses on the design of a band-pass filter for the 66 GHz to 71 GHz Inter-Satellite Services band. The design aims to address the need for reliable and efficient intersatellite communications within small satellite formations, which is considered a promising solution for advancing Beyond-5G communications. The design approach utilizes the slow-wave effect for miniaturization and is compatible with the Metallic-Nanowire-Membrane fabrication platform. A comparison between the slowwave filter and a traditional microstrip line filter reveals that the slow-wave filter achieves higher selectivity due to the use of higher quality factor slow-wave microstrip lines. Moreover, the slowwave filter occupies a significantly smaller area, approximately 73% smaller than the traditional approach, demonstrating the advantages of the slow-wave design in terms of miniaturization and improved filter performance.