Experimental verification of a broadband planar focusing antenna based on transformation optics

Abstract

It is experimentally verified that a two-dimensional planar focusing antenna based on gradient-index metamaterials has a similar performance as that of its parabolic counterpart. The antenna is designed using quasi-conformal transformation optics, and is realized with non-resonant I-shaped metamaterial unit cells. It is shown that the antenna has a broad bandwidth and very low loss. Near-field distributions of the antenna are measured and far-field radiation patterns are calculated from the measured data, which have good agreement with the full-wave simulations. Using all-dielectric metamaterials, the design can be scaled down to find applications at optical frequencies. © IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft.