The recent extension of the orbital angular momentum (OAM) concept from optical to microwave frequencies has led some researchers to explore how well established antenna techniques can be used to radiate a non-zero OAM electromagnetic field. In this frame, the aim of the present paper is to propose a new approach to generate a non-zero OAM field through a single patch antenna. Using the cavity model, we first analyze the radiated field by a standard circular patch and show that a circular polarized (CP) TMnm mode excited by using two coaxial cables generates an electromagnetic field with an OAM of order ±(n-1). Then, in order to obtain a simpler structure with a single feed, we design an elliptical patch antenna working on the right-handed (RH) CP TM21 mode. Using full-wave simulations and experiments on a fabricated prototype, we show that the proposed antenna effectively radiates an electromagnetic field with a first order OAM. Such results prove that properly designed patch antennas can be used as compact and low-cost generators of electromagnetic fields carrying OAM.
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