Fresnel Spiral Antenna for Detection

at Visible and Far-Infrared bands

Francisco J. Gonzlez *, Javier Alda+
*

Coordinacin para la innovacin de la ciencia y la tecnologa.

Universidad Autnoma de San Luis Potos. Sierra Leona, 550.
Lomas 2 secc. 78210. San Luis Potos, Mexico
javier.gonzalez@uaslp.mx
+
Applied Optics Complutense Group. University Complutense of Madrid
School of Optics. Ave. Arcos de Jaln, 118. 28037 Madrid. Spain
j.alda@opt.ucm.es
Abstract A dual-band device has been designed and simulated
to simultaneously detect optical radiation in the far infrared (at
10 m) and the visible band. The infrared detector consists of a
spiral antenna obtained from an adaptation of a Fresnel zone
plate. Symmetric and asymmetric designs have been proposed
and simulated. The response in the infrared is obtained from a
computational electromagnetic calculation. The diffraction
pattern at the focal point of the element has been calculated to
check the feasibility of the modified design.

I. INTRODUCTION
A dual-band detector designed to work at visible and farinfrared wavelengths is presented in this contribution. The
design is based on a Fresnel Zone Plate which serves the
double purpose of focusing visible radiation over a visible
detector and as an antenna-coupled detector for 10.6-m
radiation (see Fig. 1). The characterization was performed
using full-wave finite element simulations and scalar
diffraction calculations.
A Fresnel Zone Plate Lens (FZPL) works by concentrating
energy of an incident plane wave by blocking the portions that
would add destructively at the focal point, these devices have
been used successfully to focus infrared radiation onto spiral
infrared antennas coupled to microbolometers [1,2].
Since the size and shape of FZPLs in the visible
resembles a spiral antenna at higher wavelengths, a design
based on a modified FZPL which serves the double purpose of
focusing visible radiation and as an antenna-coupled detector,
which have been used successfully to detect infrared radiation
[3], is presented.
A similar dual-band design has been proposed and
numerically characterized at infrared and millimeter
wavelengths [4]. By using this concept we have on the same
chip the capability to detect two radiations. The wavelengths
of operation can be separated up to 2 orders of magnitude
depending on the number of zones involved and the
electromagnetic size of the spiral antenna.

Fig. 1: Layout of the double band detection element. The IR detector is

adapted from a Fresnel zone arrangement. This Fresnel zone focuses
visible radiation onto the visible detector.

II. DESIGN
The classical binary, Soret-type, Fresnel zone arrangement
is modified to include connection lines between alternate
Fresnel zones. These connections are given as rectangular
strips. The result is a configuration of a spiral antenna. In
figure 2 we show two possible realizations of the spiral
antenna: a symmetric and an asymmetric design. The central
Fresnel zone is filled with a bolometric material.
Some
alternative designs can be also considered. For example, by
placing different schematics for the connecting rectangles, we
may modify the differential response to orthogonal
polarization states. At the same time, by reversing the design
and by leaving the central zone as a transparent zone we may
improve the diffractional efficiency for devices having a low
number of zones. Then, the antenna response is relying on the
bolometric constant of the metal.

Fig. 2: Symmetric and asymmetric Fresnel antenna for the detection of the
infrared radiation.

In order to evaluate the efficiency of the Fresnel zone plate

lens in the visible, a diffractive calculation was made with a
Rayleigh-Sommerfeld method using a scalar approach. The
detector placed at the focal point of the spiral Fresnel zone
plate can be a classical semiconductor detector or even an
optical antenna resonating at visible frequencies [5]. When
using optical antennas coupled to transducers for the visible
range detection, the diffractional spot, having a symmetry
depending on the location and configuration of the connecting
rectangles of the spiral, fills the spatial response area of the
device [3,6]. The shape and orientation of the spatial response
depends on the geometry used for the antenna at visible
frequencies.
Numerical simulations of the infrared antenna-coupled
detector were performed using the Finite Element Method
implemented in COMSOL Multiphysics. The optical
properties of the metals involved in the design have been
obtained from spectral ellipsometric data [7]. The infrared
antenna is placed on the polished surface of a substrate
transparent for the visible radiation. The material of this
substrate is a conventional optical glass.
III. SIMULATION

Fig. 3: Spectral response of the symmetric (top) and asymmetric (bottom)

Fresnel antennas, for several polarization states: xpol is for an horizontal
polarization, ypol is for a vertical polarization, rcp is for right circular
polarization and lcp is for left circular polarization.

When calculating the irradiance distribution after the

Fresnel zone plate we are interested in having a relation
with the behaviour of a perfect circular FZP. Figure 4
shows the axial irradiance distribution of both the
symmetric and asymmetric designs. Besides we have
plotted the same axial distribution for a circular

Antena en espiral de
Fresnel para la
deteccin de bandas
visibles y del
infrarrojo lejano
F

Figure 3 shows the response of the symmetric and

ZP. The results show that both the symmetric and
asymmetric designs to several polarization states of the asymmetric designs behave very alike and only a small
incoming radiation. In both cases the circular polarization degradation of the performance is observed when compared to
states produce a better response than the liner polarization. the circular FZP.
This can be explained by the enhanced excitation of currents
when circular polarization is involved.

Fig. 4: Axial irradiance distribution.

Figures 5 and 6 represent the irradiance distribution

produced after the modified Fresnel lens. We may see in
Figure 5 that both the symmetric and asymmetric design are
having about the same shape. However, when obtained the
focal spot irradiance distribution they are clearly
distinguishable for these two designs.

Fig. 6: Irradiance distribution at the focal plane for the symmetric (top)
and asymmetric (bottom) designs.

Fig. 5: Irradiance distribution along the z axis. The location of the main
maximum of irradiance is having a similar shape. Only some side lobes in
defocused transversal planes are presenting asymmetries related with the
design type.

IV. CONCLUSIONS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This work has been possible thanks to the support of the
Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovaccin of Spain through the
project TEC2006-01882, and by a grant from the University
Complutense of Madrid, and the support for mobility of the
University Autnoma de San Luis Potos.
Francisco Javier Gonzlez acknowledges support from
PROMEP, FOMIX-SLP and CONACyT through grants
PROMEP /103.5/04/1386, FMSLP-2008-C01-87127 and CB2006-60349 respectively.
REFERENCES
[1]

Using computer simulations the concept of a Fresnel Zone

Antenna (FZA) used for dual-band detection in the visible and
[2]
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The proposed device can be fabricated on the polished
surface of a glass wafer. The wafer needs to be transparent to [3]
the visible radiation. This element can be fabricated on the
same substrate providing a dual-band detector for two spectral [4]
ranges of operation.
[5]
[6]

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[7]

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the metal dispersion on the resonance of antennas at infrared
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