Optimum Design of Millimeter-Wave Double-Dielectric Fresnel Zone-Plate Lens and Antenna

The microwave/millimeter-wave Fresnel-zone plate (FZP) lenses differ substantially in construction, technology and applications from their optical analogs and require specific design equations and methods of electromagnetic analysis. In this paper, optimum design equations for double-dielectric lossless FZP lens are derived. The best and worst choices of the permittivity ratio for lossless dielectrics are discussed in detail. In addition, the influence of dielectric losses on the lens thickness for given wavelength and permittivities is examined. Two versions of a 57.5-GHz double-dielectric phase-reversal zone plate are used as focusing elements of FZP lens antenna. The antenna co-polar and cross-polar radiation patterns, aperture efficiency and frequency bandwidth are analyzed numerically and contrasted with those of half-blocked FZP and horn lens antennas.