This paper presents a full electromagnetic (EM) characterization of metallic lenses. The method is based on the utilization of free-space transmission and reflection coefficients to accurately obtain lenses' tensorial EM parameters. The applied method reveals a clear anisotropic behavior with a full tensorial directional permittivity and permeability and noticeably dispersive permeability and wave impedance. This method yields accurate values for the effective refractive index, wave impedance, permittivity, and permeability, unlike those obtained by simple methods such as the eigenmode method. These correct cell parameters affect their lens performance, as manifested in a clear level of anisotropy, impedance matching, and losses. The effect of anisotropy caused by oblique incidence on the performance and operation of lens designs is illustrated in a lens design case.
Keywords: anisotropy; impedance matching; losses; metallic lens; tensorial parameters.