THE LUNEBERG LENS PRINCIPLE

The Luneberg lens is a dielectric sphere with a permittivity varying with the distance from the center. This property allows a good focalisation of the microwave beams in a focal point located at the peripheral of the lens. The lens can then be used as a reflector (with a metallization) or as emission or reception antenna (with one or more feeds).

THE ADVANTAGES OF A LUNEBERG REFLECTOR

•Considerable increase in RCS (Radar Cross Section) for any systems with little or no RCS

•Homogeneous response within a wide angle

THE ADVANTAGES OF A LUNEBERG ANTENNA

• Reduced size
• High reception performance/Extremely large bandwidth
• Generation of multiple beams aimed in different directions / multi-beam antenna

APPLICATIONS

The Luneberg lens is used for two types of applications:

- reflector or passive radar reflector
– antenna

The electromagnetic and mechanical properties meet the needs of military and civilian applications.

• Military : radar detection of target

• Civilian :

– port and airport beaconing
– maritime and river beaconing
– aerial navigation assistance
– signaling of vehicles, ships, buoys and obstacles
– microwave communication

SHAPES :

• SPHERICAL LENS
  

Spherical lens	Variation of permittivity	Path of a microwave in a spherical lens
Spherical antenna	Variation of permittivity

• HEMISPHERICAL LENS
  

Hemispherical lens

Hemispherical antenna

Path of a microwave beam in a hemispherical lens