Geodesic Lenses for Aerospace Applications

The properties of a class of geodesic lenses which have potential uses in microwave antenna applications are described. The promising features of these lenses include multiple beam capability and versatility of flush-mounting to a wide variety of surfaces, e.g., flat surfaces on aerospace vehicles and conical surfaces in the nose sections of aircraft and missles. An inflatable lens structure is attractive as a satellite antenna. Because of the circular symmetry of these lenses, coverage over 360° about the symmetry axis is possible. The beam position can be controlled in the transverse dimension by radial feed position giving two-dimensional coverage from a fixed lens. Beam positioning has been demonstrated in two lens models. Furthermore, the TEM and the TEo1 waveguide modes can be employed to obtain two modes of orthogonal polarization.