A Near‐Zero Index Metamaterial Lens for Reduced Complexity and High‐Performance Active Electronically Scanned Arrays

Abstract A lens consisting of an anisotropic near‐zero index metamaterial (NZIM) is introduced for improving the far‐field performance of active electronically scanned arrays (AESA). Several simulation studies demonstrate how the NZIM lens (metalens) can be functionalized to transform the embedded e...

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Main Authors: J. Daniel Binion, Colin A. Mussman, Erik Lier, Thomas H. Hand, Douglas H. Werner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-VCH 2025-03-01
Series:Advanced Electronic Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/aelm.202400224
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author J. Daniel Binion
Colin A. Mussman
Erik Lier
Thomas H. Hand
Douglas H. Werner
author_facet J. Daniel Binion
Colin A. Mussman
Erik Lier
Thomas H. Hand
Douglas H. Werner
author_sort J. Daniel Binion
collection DOAJ
description Abstract A lens consisting of an anisotropic near‐zero index metamaterial (NZIM) is introduced for improving the far‐field performance of active electronically scanned arrays (AESA). Several simulation studies demonstrate how the NZIM lens (metalens) can be functionalized to transform the embedded element pattern of an array from a typical cosinusoidal shape to a flat‐topped pattern, dramatically reducing the gain at wider angles. This corresponds to reductions in scan loss and suppression of grating lobes in the desired field of view (FOV), especially for arrays with large element spacing (i.e., sparse or thinned arrays). The metalens concept is demonstrated through several simulation studies illustrating the beam shaping capability of NZIM materials. A fabricated metalens demonstrates full suppression of grating lobes and minimal scan loss with a ±10° FOV, which is ideally suited for limited FOV applications such as geosynchronous satellite communications.
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issn 2199-160X
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series Advanced Electronic Materials
spelling doaj-art-d35e4980ffd64f659c76880607b15f002025-08-20T01:58:04ZengWiley-VCHAdvanced Electronic Materials2199-160X2025-03-01113n/an/a10.1002/aelm.202400224A Near‐Zero Index Metamaterial Lens for Reduced Complexity and High‐Performance Active Electronically Scanned ArraysJ. Daniel Binion0Colin A. Mussman1Erik Lier2Thomas H. Hand3Douglas H. Werner4Department of Electrical Engineering The Pennsylvania State University University Park PA 16802 USADepartment of Electrical Engineering The Pennsylvania State University University Park PA 16802 USALockheed Martin Space Corporation Littleton CO 80125 USALockheed Martin Space Corporation Littleton CO 80125 USADepartment of Electrical Engineering The Pennsylvania State University University Park PA 16802 USAAbstract A lens consisting of an anisotropic near‐zero index metamaterial (NZIM) is introduced for improving the far‐field performance of active electronically scanned arrays (AESA). Several simulation studies demonstrate how the NZIM lens (metalens) can be functionalized to transform the embedded element pattern of an array from a typical cosinusoidal shape to a flat‐topped pattern, dramatically reducing the gain at wider angles. This corresponds to reductions in scan loss and suppression of grating lobes in the desired field of view (FOV), especially for arrays with large element spacing (i.e., sparse or thinned arrays). The metalens concept is demonstrated through several simulation studies illustrating the beam shaping capability of NZIM materials. A fabricated metalens demonstrates full suppression of grating lobes and minimal scan loss with a ±10° FOV, which is ideally suited for limited FOV applications such as geosynchronous satellite communications.https://doi.org/10.1002/aelm.202400224electronically scanned arraymetalensmetamaterial
spellingShingle J. Daniel Binion
Colin A. Mussman
Erik Lier
Thomas H. Hand
Douglas H. Werner
A Near‐Zero Index Metamaterial Lens for Reduced Complexity and High‐Performance Active Electronically Scanned Arrays
Advanced Electronic Materials
electronically scanned array
metalens
metamaterial
title A Near‐Zero Index Metamaterial Lens for Reduced Complexity and High‐Performance Active Electronically Scanned Arrays
title_full A Near‐Zero Index Metamaterial Lens for Reduced Complexity and High‐Performance Active Electronically Scanned Arrays
title_fullStr A Near‐Zero Index Metamaterial Lens for Reduced Complexity and High‐Performance Active Electronically Scanned Arrays
title_full_unstemmed A Near‐Zero Index Metamaterial Lens for Reduced Complexity and High‐Performance Active Electronically Scanned Arrays
title_short A Near‐Zero Index Metamaterial Lens for Reduced Complexity and High‐Performance Active Electronically Scanned Arrays
title_sort near zero index metamaterial lens for reduced complexity and high performance active electronically scanned arrays
topic electronically scanned array
metalens
metamaterial
url https://doi.org/10.1002/aelm.202400224
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