Recently, there has been growing interest in the use of metamaterial (MTM)-based lenses, also known as metalenses, as innovative antenna technology. Increasingly widespread applications of metalenses in modern microwave communication and sensing systems have been found, following the development of the first microwave artificial lens in the 1940s based on the concept of an artificial dielectric, which was later broadly termed an “MTM. ” This article examines the evolution of metalens antennas over the past 80 years and introduces the principles and technologies underlying their design. It then focuses on the latest progress in the research on and applications of MTMs and metasurface (MTS)-based metalens antennas. The principles and basic structures of transmissive focusing metalens antennas in the microwave band are elaborated. Selected metalens antennas are introduced chronologically, starting with metallic waveguide lens antennas, followed by metallic or metal–dielectric Fresnel zone plate lens antennas, transmitarray lens antennas, MTS lens antennas, and flat transformation-optics-based MTM Luneburg lens antennas. The technical merits, challenges, applications, trends, and future research of each type of metalens antenna are also addressed. The information presented in this article will benefit the research, development, and application of metalens antennas in fifth- and beyond-generation communications, Wi-Fi 6 short-range connections, and next-generation microwave sensing and imaging systems.

中文翻译：

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微波超透镜天线

最近，人们对使用基于超材料 (MTM) 的透镜（也称为超透镜）作为创新天线技术越来越感兴趣。继 20 世纪 40 年代基于人工电介质概念（后来被广泛称为“MTM”）开发出第一个微波人工透镜之后，超透镜在现代微波通信和传感系统中的应用日益广泛。本文回顾了超透镜天线在过去 80 年的演变，并介绍了其设计背后的原理和技术。然后重点介绍了基于MTM和超表面（MTS）的超透镜天线的研究和应用的最新进展。阐述了微波频段透射聚焦超透镜天线的原理和基本结构。按时间顺序介绍选定的超透镜天线，从金属波导透镜天线开始，然后是金属或金属电介质菲涅尔波带板透镜天线、发射阵列透镜天线、MTS 透镜天线和基于平面变换光学的 MTM Luneburg 透镜天线。还讨论了每种类型元透镜天线的技术优点、挑战、应用、趋势和未来研究。本文中提供的信息将有利于超透镜天线在第五代及以后通信、Wi-Fi 6 短距离连接以及下一代微波传感和成像系统中的研究、开发和应用。发射阵列透镜天线、MTS 透镜天线和基于平面变换光学的 MTM Luneburg 透镜天线。还讨论了每种类型元透镜天线的技术优点、挑战、应用、趋势和未来研究。本文中提供的信息将有利于超透镜天线在第五代及以后通信、Wi-Fi 6 短距离连接以及下一代微波传感和成像系统中的研究、开发和应用。发射阵列透镜天线、MTS 透镜天线和基于平面变换光学的 MTM Luneburg 透镜天线。还讨论了每种类型元透镜天线的技术优点、挑战、应用、趋势和未来研究。本文中提供的信息将有利于超透镜天线在第五代及以后通信、Wi-Fi 6 短距离连接以及下一代微波传感和成像系统中的研究、开发和应用。