Planar metamaterial-based beam-scanning broadband microwave antenna

The broadband directive emission from the use of waveguided metamaterials is numerically and experimentally reported. The metamaterials, which are composed of non-resonant circular complementary closed ring structures printed on a dielectric substrate, are designed to obey the refractive index of a Luneburg lens. An arc array of planar radiating slot antennas placed at the periphery of the lens is used as wave launchers. A prototype of the lens associated with the feed structures has been fabricated using standard lithography techniques. To experimentally demonstrate the broadband focusing properties and directive emissions, far-field radiation patterns have been measured. Furthermore, this metamaterial-based lens can be used to achieve beam-scanning with a coverage of up to 120 degrees. Far-field measurements agree qualitatively with calculated near-field distributions. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.