Toward full-wave simulations of cylindrical reflectors illuminated by focal-line phased arrays

Abstract

Cylindrical reflectors, combined with phased-array line feeds, may represent a cost-effective way of performing directive transmission and observation. Independent study of the phased array and of the reflector may be relatively complex, and it involves several approximations. This paper is concerned with the efficient computation of the secondary element patterns associated with each antenna feed in its array-plus-reflector environment, with the help of the Method of Moments. The structure is assumed infinite in the direction of the cylinder axis. Simulation results are shown for a cylindrical reflector illuminated by line-feeds made of three dipole antennas in each unit cell.