LUNA: Luneburg-Lens-Aided Reconfigurable Array for 6G-and-Advanced Wireless Networks
Abstract
This article introduces the LUneburg-lens-aided recoNfigurable Array (LUNA), an antenna architecture that unifies multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and network-controlled repeater (NCR) functionalities in the Luneburg lens-enabled hardware platform. A Luneburg lens, fabricated from graded-index dielectric materials, passively converts the radiation of a low-gain feed into a highly directional beam without active phase shifting, while a dense passive feed bank and a reconfigurable feed-selection network electronically switch the beam directions with minimal hardware complexity and power consumption. We commence by reviewing the basic principles and application history of Luneburg lenses in radar and wireless communications, which motivates their role in 6G-and-advanced networks. Then, we highlight how a Luneburg lens and a reconfigurable feed array construct both LUNA-MIMO and LUNA-NCR, where the lens and feed bank can be reused across functions and frequency bands. Case studies demonstrate that LUNA achieves the satisfactory spectral and energy efficiency with a few radio-frequency chains, and it also improves positioning performance for sensing tasks. Finally, some open problems and research directions are provided to inspire follow-up research on LUNA.
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BibTeX
@misc{wan2026luna,
title = {{LUNA: Luneburg-Lens-Aided Reconfigurable Array for 6G-and-Advanced Wireless Networks}},
author = {Ziwei Wan and Zhen Gao and Shuping Dang and Michail Matthaiou and Zhaocheng Wang and Sheng Chen},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2609.25979},
eprint = {2609.25979},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.25979},
note = {CC BY-NC-SA 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - LUNA: Luneburg-Lens-Aided Reconfigurable Array for 6G-and-Advanced Wireless Networks
AU - Ziwei Wan
AU - Zhen Gao
AU - Shuping Dang
AU - Michail Matthaiou
AU - Zhaocheng Wang
AU - Sheng Chen
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2609.25979
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.25979
AB - This article introduces the LUneburg-lens-aided recoNfigurable Array (LUNA), an antenna architecture that unifies multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and network-controlled repeater (NCR) functionalities in the Luneburg lens-enabled hardware platform. A Luneburg lens, fabricated from graded-index dielectric materials, passively converts the radiation of a low-gain feed into a highly directional beam without active phase shifting, while a dense passive feed bank and a reconfigurable feed-selection network electronically switch the beam directions with minimal hardware complexity and power consumption. We commence by reviewing the basic principles and application history of Luneburg lenses in radar and wireless communications, which motivates their role in 6G-and-advanced networks. Then, we highlight how a Luneburg lens and a reconfigurable feed array construct both LUNA-MIMO and LUNA-NCR, where the lens and feed bank can be reused across functions and frequency bands. Case studies demonstrate that LUNA achieves the satisfactory spectral and energy efficiency with a few radio-frequency chains, and it also improves positioning performance for sensing tasks. Finally, some open problems and research directions are provided to inspire follow-up research on LUNA.
ER -