Lens for Scanning Angle Enhancement of Phased Array Antennas

摘要

A method and apparatus are present for creating a negative index metamaterial lens for use with a phased array antenna. A design having a buckyball shape is created for the negative index metamaterial lens. The buckyball shape is capable of bending a beam generated by the phased array antenna to around 90 degrees from a vertical orientation to form an initial design. The initial design is modified to include discrete components to form a discrete design. Materials are selected for the discrete components. Negative index metamaterial unit cells are designed for the discrete components to form designed negative index metamaterial unit cells. The designed negative index metamaterial unit cells are fabricated to form fabricated designed negative index metamaterial unit cells. The negative index metamaterial lens is formed from the designed negative index metamaterial unit cells.