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Microwave dielectric stepped-index flat lens antenna

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2016

Hernan Barba Molina*
Affiliation:
Institute of Radio Frequency Technology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany. Phone: +49 711 685 67402
Jan Hesselbarth
Affiliation:
Institute of Radio Frequency Technology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany. Phone: +49 711 685 67402
*
Corresponding author: H. Barba Molina Email: barba@ihf.uni-stuttgart.de

Abstract

Dielectric stepped-index flat lens antennas for operation at 12 GHz are presented. A brick-shaped dielectric with a permittivity profile optimized for focusing is sandwiched between the metallic plates of an open-ended parallel-plate waveguide. A tapered slot antenna is placed at the focal point of the dielectric lens, thereby creating antennas with high directivity of 16.8 and 15.8 dBi, respectively. In the two versions of the antenna, the parallel-plate waveguide operates in TEM-mode and in the first higher-order TE-mode, respectively. The dielectric profile is realized by appropriate mixtures of alumina ceramic powder and microscopic hollow glass spheres, realizing permittivity ranging from εrel = 1.31 to εrel = 3.24. The design of the complete antennas is based on geometrical optics followed by optimizations with a full-wave electromagnetic solver. Measurements show good agreement with simulations.

Type
Research Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the European Microwave Association 2016 

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