Broadband Integrated Lens for Illuminating Reflector Antenna with Constant Aperture Efficiency
Fernandes, C. A.
;
Lima, E.B.
;
Costa, J.R.
IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation Vol. 52, Nº 12, pp. 3805 - 3813, December, 2010.
ISSN (print): 0018-926X
ISSN (online): 1558-2221
Scimago Journal Ranking: 1,06 (in 2010)
Digital Object Identifier: 10.1109/TAP.2010.2078463
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Abstract
This paper presents a new integrated shaped lens antenna configuration with frequency stable radiation pattern and phase center position across a broad 1:3 frequency band, which can be used for focal plane reflector feeding in quasi-optical radio telescope systems. The lens is compatible with the integration of ultra-wideband uniplanar printed feeds at its base and equally broadband mixing devices, like the Hot Electron Bolometer (HEB), although these are not used in the present work. Measurements on a scaled mm-wave lab prototype have confirmed stable performance versus frequency, with only ±1dB directivity variation, and better than 94% Gaussicity, thanks to the possibility to impose a predefined output radiation pattern template. Simulations were performed to test the illumination of an off-set parabolic reflector by the lens radiation pattern, which confirmed reasonably constant aperture efficiency in the order of 78% across the 100% bandwidth.