Volume 1, 2022
VISION
The Water Drop Lens: Revisiting the Past to Shape the Future
Author: Nelson J. G. Fonseca
Abstract: This vision paper provides a brief overview on recent developments related to a new solution of quasi-optical beamformer, referred to as the water drop lens. This parallel plate waveguide beamformer, which is a revisited geodesic lens with a shaped profile, is attracting attention for applications in the millimetre-wave range, where more conventional dielectric lenses prove to be too lossy and standard geodesic lenses are still too bulky. On-going investigations include satellite and terrestrial communication systems, radar systems and imaging systems with wideband operation at centre frequencies ranging from about 20 GHz to over 120 GHz.
