Wide-angle scannable reflector design using conformal transformation optics

Abstract

A flat reflector capable of scanning over wide angles is designed using a transformation optics approach. This reflector is derived from its virtual parabolic counterpart using a conformal coordinate transformation that determines the permittivity profile of the flat reflector. By changing the permittivity profile, the flat reflector is then capable of scanning up to 47° away from broadside while maintaining good beam characteristics across a wide frequency range. Moreover, its directivity is comparable to that of the virtual parabolic reflector, even at high scan angles. We use the Schwarz-Christoffel transformation as a versatile tool to produce perfect conformal mapping of coordinates between the virtual and flat reflectors, thereby avoiding the need to monitor the anisotropy of the material that results when employing quasi-conformal methods.