Laboratory testing on a nonredundant NF-FF transformation with plane-polar scanning optimized for quasi-planar antennas

Abstract

This work deals with the experimental validation of a probe compensated near-field - far-field (NF-FF) transformation with plane-polar scanning, which makes possible to lower the number of needed measurements, as well as the time required for the data acquisition when dealing with quasi-planar antennas. It relies on the use of the nonredundant sampling representations of electromagnetic fields, employing an oblate ellipsoid to shape an antenna under test characterized by quasi-planar geometry. A two-dimensional optimal sampling interpolation formula allows the reconstruction of the NF data at any point on the measurement plane and, in particular, at those required by the classical NF-FF transformation with the plane-rectangular scan. Some experimental results carried out at the UNISA Antenna Characterization Lab and assessing the effectiveness of the technique are shown.