Altering antenna performance using magnifying wire medium

A tapered wire medium is investigated for purposes of transmission, magnification and demagnification of microwave images with sub-wavelength resolution. An attempt to broaden the limits of wire medium applications is presented. The medium can potentially create unusual field or current distributions at the aperture. This can result in an increased directivity for an antenna or in creating desired nulls or maxima of radiation pattern. The tapered array of wires, with a three-fold magnification, flat interfaces and a compensating lens has been used to show the described effect. Theoretical and measured results for a half-wavelength dipole have demonstrated proof of this concept.