Geometrical Optics in Inhomogeneous Chiral Media with Application to Polarization Correction of Inhomogeneous Microwave Lens Antennas

Abstract

A novel geometric optics method for inhomogeneous chiral media is introduced applying normalized wave fields, which are certain complex combinations of the electric and magnetic fields. It is seen that for sufficiently small values of the chirality parameter, the geometrical optics rays can be calculated as for a chiral media and the main effect of the chirality is rotation of polarization along the ray. Thus, adding chirality to inhomogeneous lens antennas, their polarization properties can be improved. As an example, the Maxwell fish-eye lens is analyzed and two possible expressions for a chirality distribution capable of eliminating the inherent cross polarization, are derived.