Refractive Ice Lens for Millimeter Wave Radar Imaging

作者：Hongming Wu, Feng Qi, Yelong Wang, Jinkuan Wang · 发表于：IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters · 年份：2023 · DOI：10.1109/lgrs.2023.3309991 · 被引用次数：2 · 研究领域：Superconducting and THz Device Technology、Soil Moisture and Remote Sensing、Terahertz technology and applications

In this letter, we designed a hemispherical refractive lens using ice for millimeter wave (MMW) imaging in the environment of −15 °C. Guided by geometrical optics theory, we calculated a suitable thickness of the lens to compensate for the phase of aperture field emitted by the antenna. Then, the 3 dB beamwidth was reduced from 17.6° to 2.1°. Meanwhile, the antenna gain is increased from 17 to 24 dB, which raises the maximum radar detection distance by 18%. Finally, we conducted experiments for MMW imaging to test the ice lens under different road conditions. Measuring results demonstrated that the image error rate has been significantly reduced and the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) has increased by more than 5 dB, which are consistent with simulated results. It should be noted that the ice lens can improve imaging quality and increase imaging resolution, making it widely applicable in the fields of Pole expedition and snow disaster rescue.