Scattering and Focusing Effect of Stepped Index Luneberg Lens

Focusing effect of the Luneberg lens for wide bandwidth is studied with emphasis on experiment. A model experiment was performed using a stepped index (six-layer) spherical lens. The total electric field amplitude along the propagation axis has the maximum value (focal point) on the surface of the lens. As the size parameter ka (k: wave number, a: radius of the sphere) is larger, the electric field amplitude at the focal point becomes larger. These results correspond with the power of convergence (focusing effect) by the Luneberg lens. The experimental values are in a good agreement with theoretical ones that are calculated using homogeneous multilayered approximate method. They are also in a good agreement with the results using exact solutions for the inhomogeneous dielectric sphere (the ideal Luneberg lens). Therefore, it is found that the six-layer spherical lens has the optimum variation of dielectric constants for the Luneberg lens and maintains focusing effect for wide bandwidth.