Dual-polarized Near-field Plane Wave Generator using an offset-optics reflectarray mm-Wave band

Abstract

In this work, a reflectarray antenna is presented as a dual-polarized plane wave generator (PWG) in mm-wave frequencies. The reflectarray produces a uniform plane wave within its near field in a volume close to the aperture. A dual-polarized pencil beam reflectarray is used as starting point to carry out a phase-only synthesis (POS) to reach a dual-polarized uniform plane wave. The synthesis aims to overcome the amplitude limitation due to the incident field while preserving the phase flatness. The phase distribution obtained in the POS is used to carry out a design based on sets of orthogonal-coplanar dipoles. This unit cell provides independent control of each polarization using a single-layer topology. The design is manufactured, and the prototype is measured in a planar acquisition range facility. The prototype shows discrepancies with simulation and further analysis is carried out. After finding out the proper value of the dielectric constant, a new design is carried out. The second prototype shows a good agreement with simulations, obtaining that reflectarray antennas are a suitable and low-profile solution to produce uniform plane waves within the near field.