Performance of a class of stacked-disk dielectric lenses for lightweight antennas

The electromagnetic performance of a class of lightweight stacked disk dielectric lenses, useful for reducing the cost and construction complexity of a radiating system, are compared with the massive counterpart in order to highlight their strengths and weaknesses. A full-wave numerical technique to include field propagation and diffraction effects taking place between the different disks forming the considered lenses, was employed. Information useful to exploit the electromagnetic characteristics of the analyzed lenses are presented.