A Low-Profile Tapered Slot Antenna Array with Two-Decade (20:1) Bandwidth

Realizing an antenna for ultra-wide bandwidth operation while maintaining a low profile are two necessary steps for many space-based antenna arrays. As the desire for more bandwidth increases, so does the complexity and engineering required to make such an element viable. Traditionally, to achieve bandwidths stretching from UHF to SHF require physically large elements with a half wavelength spacing in an array setting to get the desired performance. Some antennas even sacrifice performance (mismatch, loss) to achieve a wide bandwidth. The tapered slot antenna design presented in this paper achieves a 20:1 bandwidth, and is electrically small. The design takes advantage of a multiplexed matched feed method to get a good match across each band. The element is built utilizing 3D printing to aid the producibility of the unique structures associated with the design. The array aperture is dual linear with vertical and horizontal polarizations.