Reduced height Luneburg lens antennas for satellite communications-on-the-move

The hemispherical (or half-Luneburg) lens antenna is a candidate type for satellite communications-on-the-move, either singly or as an element in a small array. It offers good aperture efficiency in a reduced height and excellent scanning performance. This work describes the development of half Luneburg lens antennas together with feeding arrangements to provide highly directive antennas with good scanning properties. The effects of the primary feed pattern and other loss mechanisms are investigated and reported. Measured gain for a 432mm diameter polymer lens at 30 GHz is 38.7 dBi.