Deployable MetaLens for G-Band Earth Science Applications

This proposal addresses the Decadal Survey Incubator (DSI) call for disruptive technologies that enable innovative SmallSat-based measurement techniques to meet Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) science objectives. The key objective is to develop a deployable G-band high gain antenna that reduces instrument size, weight and power (SWaP) to enable a new measurement capability that is not currently feasible. Specifically, the 2019 NASA decadal survey incubation program focused on priority PBL science and technology components that require advancement and development prior to implementation. The PBL Study Team Report, "Toward A Global Planetary Boundary Layer Observing System" identified "G-band Lightweight Deployable Antennas" as one of the five key technologies needed to enable a PBL mission. The proposed antenna technology is a unique new artificial dielectric lens. Lenses have long been favored as a simple and effective method to focus light because they are less sensitive to tolerances than a reflector antenna and have no aperture blockage. Despite these advantages, lenses are rarely used at microwave or mm-wave frequencies due to size, mass, and fabrication challenges. This proposal brings lens advantages to the mm-wave band by using an artificially engineered metal particle dielectric lens, or MetaLens, that overcomes these limitations. We will develop a deployable multi-layer MetaLens antenna design that enables future PBL missions. This breakthrough in antenna technology is needed because solid composite reflectors are currently the only large (~2 m) G-band antennas available. These composite reflectors are very expensive and do not stow compactly, which limits their applicability for PBL missions. MetaLens is an innovative new technology that will provide a lightweight and comparatively low-cost and antenna that can meet SmallSat stowage requirements. The MetaLens fabrication concept uses multiple layers of polyimide sheets, each with a pattern of photoetched copper disks. This three-dimensional array of disks creates an artificial dielectric that can produce a wide range of permittivity values, and supports inhomogeneous and/or zoned lens designs. The mechanical concept is to stack closely spaced (< lambda/5) sheets on a frame, which permits the lens to be folded for deployment. A related antenna concept, the tensioned membrane reflectarray, was successfully demonstrated at 32 GHz by John Huang at JPL, but the practical utility of his innovative antenna was limited by reflectarray tolerances. A tensioned membrane MetaLens effectively eliminates this problem because surface positioning tolerances are relaxed by an order of magnitude, so that membrane displacement errors do not significantly degrade or modulate RF performance. Moreover, unlike a reflectarray, the artificial dielectric is not a resonant electromagnetic structure – the permittivity is determined by volume density of the disks etched on each sheet, which means that transmission phase is not highly sensitive to Kapton sheet separation distance. Periodic laser cut polyimide sheets can be bonded to the layers to insure proper nominal separation. The entire assembly can be folded for stowage using a mechanism. A similar deployment mechanism was recently demonstrated on the JPL LADeR deployable reflectarray. Radar instruments are currently in development that address the key PBL science objectives. However, a breakthrough in antenna technology is essential to realize the potential of these new radars. This proposal will leverage recent investments in lens technology in order to provide an innovative new technical approach to G-band radar antennas. Entry TRL=2. Exit TRL=4

Maturation of observing systems, instrument technology, and measurement concepts for Planetary Boundary Layer and Surface Topography and Vegetation

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