Date of Award

December 2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Electrical Engineering

First Advisor

Ryan Adams

Abstract

This thesis demonstrates the development of a flat metamaterial lens intended to enhance antenna directivity in RF applications. Development and evaluation was performed with ANSYS HFSS, where a theoretical convex lens model was developed and used as a basis for unit cell refractive indices of the metamaterial lens. The unit cell demonstrated in this study leverages the properties of a nested split-ring resonator merged with a center column. Adjusting the rings allow for refractive index optimization and effective beam focusing. The work presented also provides a 2x2 antenna array with a feed network, which enables the future work of bench testing the lens as a system. The array also demonstrates lens performance in a high-directivity source application. Key findings support a directivity improvement of a single patch antenna from 4.44dB to 7.73dB. This thesis emphasizes the lens’s minimalist and application-friendly solution to traditional low-directivity limitations.

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