%0 Journal Article %T Numerical and Experimental Analysis of Microstrip Antennas Loaded with a Single DNG Resonator %J International Journal of Electromagnetics and Applications %@ 2168-5045 %D 2012 %I %R 10.5923/j.ijea.20120202.02 %X This paper deals with the numerical and experimental analysis of the effects of non-conventional materials on antenna performance. The paper is divided into two main sections: numerical simulations and experimental characterization. First, a microstrip antenna loaded with a Double-Negative (DNG) substrate is numerically simulated to study its effect on size and performance. Then the same antenna using conventional substrate is top loaded with a novel single-sided resonator (referred as diamond dipole resonator or DDR) showing DNG behavior. The antenna is manufactured and measurements are performed. The results show that the use of the DDR produces a dramatic 73.9% return loss improvement as well as a frequency shift. Issues about size reduction and negative refractive index effects are further presented and discussed. %K DNG: Double-Negative material %K SRR: split ring resonator %K FSS: Frequency Selective Surfaces %K HFSS : High Frequency Structure Simulator %K DDR: diamond dipole resonator %U http://article.sapub.org/10.5923.j.ijea.20120202.02.html