Ultra-Wideband, Electronically Reconfigurable Lens Antennas for High-Power Phased-Array Applications

This paper reviews recent advances in wide-band phased-array antennas for high-average power microwave (HAPM) applications, focusing on the challenges of simultaneously achieving high-power handling, electronic beam scanning, and ultra-wide bandwidth performance. Traditional active phased arrays encounter significant challenges in meeting these demands, largely due to the high cost of transmit/receive (T/R) modules with moderate to high power-handling capabilities, as well as the thermal management challenges associated with high-average power. Passive phased-array architectures have emerged as a more effective solution for meeting these requirements for HPM applications. Recent research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has led to the development of ultra-wideband, high-power-capable, electronically reconfigurable lens antennas utilizing polarization-rotation phase-shifting technology. This innovation not only enables the antennas to handle extreme power levels but also simplifies design and reduces associated costs. The potential of this technology is significant for applications in fields such as electronic warfare, high-power radar, satellite communications, and long-range wireless power transfer.