O.Y. Makarov – Dr.Sc. (Eng.), Professor,

Department of Design and Production of Radio Equipment, 

Voronezh State Technical University (Voronezh, Russia)

E-mail: mou@hotbox.ru

Y.G. Pasternak – Dr.Sc. (Eng.), Professor,

Department of Radioelectronic Devices and Systems, 

Voronezh State Technical University (Voronezh , Russia);

Senior Research Scientist, 

MESC AF «N.E. Zhukovsky and Y.A. Gagarin Air Forse Academy» (Voronezh, Russia);

Leading Engineer, JSC «IRCOS» (Moscow)

E-mail: pasternakyg@mail.ru

R.E. Rogozin – Applicant,

Department of Radioelectronic Devices and Systems, 

Voronezh State Technical University (Voronezh, Russia)

E-mail: ruslan-96-01-09@mail.ru

E.A. Rogozin – Dr.Sc. (Eng.), Professor, 

Department of Automated Information Systems in Interior Affairs, 

Voronezh Institute of the Ministry of Interior of Russia (Voronezh, Russia)

E-mail: evgenirogozin@yandex.ru

S.M. Fedorov – Ph.D. (Eng.), Associate Professor,

Department of Radioelectronic Devices and Systems, 

Voronezh State Technical University (Voronezh, Russia) E-mail: fedorov_sm@mail.ru

Formulation of the problem. Luneberg lenses allow you to generate a large number of radiation patterns in a wide sector of angles, due to its symmetrical design due to the radially varying refractive index. The classical Luneberg lens is a dielectric sphere with a radially varying refractive index, in which the focus is located on the surface. Often, Luneberg cylindrical lenses are used, focusing a plane incident wave in the focal line on the opposite side of the lens. In real conditions, the exact implementation of the law of refraction in a Luneberg lens is very difficult, therefore, when creating a lens, they try to maximally approximate the real characteristics to the ideal law. Luneberg lenses made of artificial dielectric or metamaterials have less weight and cost, and are also technologically simpler to manufacture. Metamaterials with a variable refractive index make it possible to more accurately realize the required law of refraction in a Luneberg lens than conventional dielectrics. Despite its widespread use, metamaterials have several disadvantages: dispersion, anisotropy, and a limited frequency range.

Purpose. Investigation of the effect of the dispersion of metamaterials on the characteristics of the Luneberg cylindrical lens made on the basis of series-arranged printed circuit boards made of thin glass FR-4 with the applied periodic metamaterial structure.

Results. In a simulation in CST STUDIO SUITE 2019, it was investigated that focus moves inside the lens as frequency increases due to the presence of dispersion in the center of the lens at the actual portion of the effective refractive index. For this reason, the lens operates in a rather narrow frequency range because the law of changing the refractive index of the Luneberg lens is observed in a narrow frequency range. Two vertically arranged half-wave vibrators with a reflector were used as an irradiator. Due to the symmetrical design of the lens, the rotation of the irradiator only to one side relative to the center of the lens was considered: when the irradiator turns, the characteristics of the antenna system are deteriorated due to the presence of anisotropy in the metamaterial. Practical importance. Obtained results allow to take into account dispersion of metamaterials and can be used in design of wide-band cylindrical Luneberg lenses from serially arranged parallel printed circuit boards with applied periodic structure of metamaterial.

Makarov O.Y., Pasternak Y.G., Rogozin R.E., Rogozin E.A., Fedorov S.M. Effect of metamaterials dispersion on Luneberg lens characteristics. Radiotekhnika. 2020. V. 84. № 6(12). P. 42−48. DOI: 10.18127/j00338486-202006(12)-08.

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