Beam-Scanning Lens Antenna Based on Elliptical Paraboloid Phase Distribution Metasurfaces

Abstract

A two-dimensional (2-D) beam-scanning lens antenna is proposed for Ka-band satellite applications, which is composed of a feed horn that can move in plane and a metasurface lens with elliptical paraboloid phase distribution. Due to the paraboloid phase compensation, the lens antenna possesses wide scanning angles in the azimuth and elevation. The fabricated lens has a size of 10.5λ <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">0</sub> × 10.5λ <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">0</sub> × 0.2λ <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">0</sub> (λ <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">0</sub> is wavelength at the center frequency of 30 GHz) and the focal-to-diameter ratio of 0.2. The total system can realize the boresight gain of 18.5 dB, and the scanning coverage of ±60° with a gain tolerance of 3.7 dB. The design methodology features the advantages of low cost, compact size, and light weight. It can find potential applications in multibeam or beam-scanning antenna systems that are comparable with array antennas.