Beyond Compact: On Antenna Co-Design and Integration in Harmonic Radar Tags

Anastasia Lavrenko; Andrei Mogilnikov

Beyond Compact: On Antenna Co-Design and Integration in Harmonic Radar Tags

Radio Systems

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

33 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This paper examines the design and characterisation of miniature harmonic radar tags, where the antenna, nonlinear element, and surrounding medium form a single system. In such configurations, conventional antenna figures of merit cannot be accessed independently. Tag performance is instead described
by its power-conversion efficiency and nonlinear radar cross section, which capture its combined nonlinear electromagnetic behaviour. We analyse how antenna geometry, diode impedance, and matching jointly determine these system-level quantities and discuss measurement strategies when individual component evaluation is not feasible. We highlight the need for iterative, multi-domain co-design as a prerequisite for reliable operation of ultra-compact harmonic tags, particularly in applications with stringent size constraints such as in insect tracking.

Original language	English
Number of pages	5
Publication status	Published - Apr 2026
Event	20th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation 2026, EuCAP 2026 - Convention Centre Dublin , Dublin, Ireland Duration: 19 Apr 2026 → 24 Apr 2026 Conference number: 20 https://www.eucap.org/

Conference

Conference	20th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation 2026, EuCAP 2026
Abbreviated title	EuCAP 2026
Country/Territory	Ireland
City	Dublin
Period	19/04/26 → 24/04/26
Internet address	https://www.eucap.org/

Keywords

harmonic tags
nonlinear tags
harmonic radar

Access to Document

Conference paperAccepted author version, 1.06 MB

4 Conference contribution
2 Article
1 Preprint

Compact and Lightweight Harmonic Tags for Insect Tracking with an X-Band Harmonic Radar
Mogilnikov, A. & Lavrenko, A., 19 Nov 2025, 2025 55th European Microwave Conference (EuMC). Piscataway, NJ: IEEE, 4 p.
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

Open Access
File
2 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)

13 Downloads (Pure)
Compact and Lightweight Planar Harmonic Tag for Operation in Challenging Environments
Mogilnikov, A., Kumar, A. & Lavrenko, A., 2025, In: IEEE Access. 13, p. 216026 - 216037 12 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Open Access
File
7 Downloads (Pure)
Compact Frequency-Tunable Harmonic Tag with Asymmetric Spiral Loop Topology
Kumar, A., Mogilnikov, A. & Lavrenko, A., 23 Jan 2025, 2024 International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation (ISAP). Piscataway, NJ: IEEE, 2 p. (Proceedings International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation (ISAP); vol. 20924).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

Open Access
File
3 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)

76 Downloads (Pure)

Cite this

@conference{2c68ca7ee42044fd84bea5cf0a8d350a,

title = "Beyond Compact: On Antenna Co-Design and Integration in Harmonic Radar Tags",

abstract = "This paper examines the design and characterisation of miniature harmonic radar tags, where the antenna, nonlinear element, and surrounding medium form a single system. In such configurations, conventional antenna figures of merit cannot be accessed independently. Tag performance is instead described by its power-conversion efficiency and nonlinear radar cross section, which capture its combined nonlinear electromagnetic behaviour. We analyse how antenna geometry, diode impedance, and matching jointly determine these system-level quantities and discuss measurement strategies when individual component evaluation is not feasible. We highlight the need for iterative, multi-domain co-design as a prerequisite for reliable operation of ultra-compact harmonic tags, particularly in applications with stringent size constraints such as in insect tracking.",

keywords = "harmonic tags, nonlinear tags, harmonic radar",

author = "Anastasia Lavrenko and Andrei Mogilnikov",

note = "{\textcopyright}2026 IEEE.; 20th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation 2026, EuCAP 2026, EuCAP 2026 ; Conference date: 19-04-2026 Through 24-04-2026",

year = "2026",

month = apr,

language = "English",

url = "https://www.eucap.org/",

}

TY - CONF

T1 - Beyond Compact

T2 - 20th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation 2026, EuCAP 2026

AU - Lavrenko, Anastasia

AU - Mogilnikov, Andrei

N1 - Conference code: 20

PY - 2026/4

Y1 - 2026/4

N2 - This paper examines the design and characterisation of miniature harmonic radar tags, where the antenna, nonlinear element, and surrounding medium form a single system. In such configurations, conventional antenna figures of merit cannot be accessed independently. Tag performance is instead described by its power-conversion efficiency and nonlinear radar cross section, which capture its combined nonlinear electromagnetic behaviour. We analyse how antenna geometry, diode impedance, and matching jointly determine these system-level quantities and discuss measurement strategies when individual component evaluation is not feasible. We highlight the need for iterative, multi-domain co-design as a prerequisite for reliable operation of ultra-compact harmonic tags, particularly in applications with stringent size constraints such as in insect tracking.

AB - This paper examines the design and characterisation of miniature harmonic radar tags, where the antenna, nonlinear element, and surrounding medium form a single system. In such configurations, conventional antenna figures of merit cannot be accessed independently. Tag performance is instead described by its power-conversion efficiency and nonlinear radar cross section, which capture its combined nonlinear electromagnetic behaviour. We analyse how antenna geometry, diode impedance, and matching jointly determine these system-level quantities and discuss measurement strategies when individual component evaluation is not feasible. We highlight the need for iterative, multi-domain co-design as a prerequisite for reliable operation of ultra-compact harmonic tags, particularly in applications with stringent size constraints such as in insect tracking.

KW - harmonic tags

KW - nonlinear tags

KW - harmonic radar

M3 - Paper

Y2 - 19 April 2026 through 24 April 2026

ER -

Beyond Compact: On Antenna Co-Design and Integration in Harmonic Radar Tags

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Research output

Compact and Lightweight Harmonic Tags for Insect Tracking with an X-Band Harmonic Radar

Compact and Lightweight Planar Harmonic Tag for Operation in Challenging Environments

Compact Frequency-Tunable Harmonic Tag with Asymmetric Spiral Loop Topology

Cite this