Effect of Facet Displacement on Radiation Field and Its Application for Panel Adjustment of Large Reflector Antenna

Large reflector antennas are widely used in radars, satellite communication, radio astronomy, and so on. The rapid developments in these fields have created demands for development of better performance and higher surface accuracy. However, low accuracy and low effi- ciency are the common disadvantages for traditional panel alignment and adjustment. In order to improve the surface accuracy of large reflector antenna, a new method is pre- sented to determinate panel adjustment values from far field pattern. Based on the method of Physical Optics （PO）, the effect of panel facet displacement on radiation field value is derived. Then the linear system is constructed between panel adjustment vector and far field pattern. Using the method of Singular Value Decomposition （SVD）, the adjustment value for all panel adjustors are obtained by solving the linear equations. An experiment is conducted on a 3.7 m reflector antenna with 12 segmented panels. The results of simulation and test are similar, which shows that the presented method is feasible. Moreover, thediscussion about validation shows that the method can be used for many cases of reflector shape. The proposed research provides the instruction to adjust surface panels efficiently and accurately.

An Elliptical-Beam Reflector Antenna forSatellite Communication System

An offset elliptical reflector antenna suitable for satellite application was designed and investigated when it was fed by a rectangular horn partially filled.with a dielectric..The.reflector antenna exhibits high gain, low cross polarization. low sidelines and an elliptical beam. Al- though this study has been carried out in view of possible satellite applications, it is clear that this. antenna. is also suitable for use in radar antennas.

Novel Surface Design of Deployable Reflector Antenna Based on Polar Scissor Structures

Space-deployable mechanisms can be used as supporting structures for large-diameter antennas in space engineering.This study proposes a novel method for constructing the surface design of space reflector antennas based on polar scissor units.The concurrency and deployability equations of the space scissor unit with definite surface constraints are derived using the rod and vector methods.Constraint equations of the spatial transformation for space n-edge polar scissor units are summarized.A new closed-loop deployable structure,called the polar scissor deployable antenna(PSDA),is designed by combining planar polar scissor units with spatial polar scissor units.The overconstrained problem is solved by releasing the curve constraint that locates at the end-point of the planar scissor mechanism.Kinematics simulation and error analysis are performed.The results show that the PSDA can effectively fit the paraboloid of revolution.Finally,deployment experiments verify the validity and feasibility of the proposed design method,which provides a new idea for the construction of large space-reflector antennas.

Thermal Distortion Compensation for Improving Electrical Performance of Reflector Antennas

Aiming at the problem of the surface accuracy and electrical performance of the antenna in space environment are reduced due to thermal deformation caused by temperature load. This paper presents a method to compensate the thermally induced shape distortion of antenna reflector by actively adjusting actuators in order to improve the electrical performance. The adjustment of each actuator is related to the local deformation of the panel. Then, taking a space deployable antenna with a diameter of 5 meters as an example, the finite element model is established. According to the range of the temperature variation in space (−180°C - 200°C), different temperature loads are applied to the antenna. The variation of electrical properties and surface accuracy is analyzed and the worst working condition is determined, and the antenna is compensated based on this condition. Then, four different electrical performance parameters are used as the optimization objectives, and the electromechanical coupling optimization model is established, and the PSO algorithm is used to optimize the actuators adjustments. The results show that the method can effectively improve the electrical performance of the deformed reflector antenna.

Radiation Characteristics of the Reflector Antenna with Random Perforated Holes

The radiation characteristics of a doubly curved shaped reflector antenna with random holes is analyzed by physical optics (PO) method, and the probability model of the random holes and its numerical realization method are presented. The radiation patterns show that in the azimuth plane the peak sidelobe level becomes much higher as the reflector surface with random holes. The simulation results can provide a theoretical guidance for the radar attackers.

Numerical Techniques Used in Modeling Codes for Dual-Reflector Antenna Design and Analysis

An user-oriented computer software consisting of three modeling codes, named DRAD, DRAA and FDPAT, is introduced. It can be used to design three types of Cassegrain system: classical, with shaped subreflector and with dual shaped reflectors, and to analyse radiation patterns for the antennas. Several mathematical models and numerical techniques are presented.

Analysis and Design of a New Shaped Spherical Reflector Antenna with a Horn Feed

A design method of a new shaped spherical reflector antenna with a horn feed for wide-angle scanning is presented,in which the horn's phase center need not be found out and its optimal position can be determined.It is found from numerical calculation that the shaped spherical reflector antenna has better electrical performance than that of the spherical reflector antenna,at the maximum gain value under the conditions of the same feed and reflector aperture,and can be used as a wide angle searching antenna.

Gradient-based optimization method for producing a contoured beam with single-fed reflector antenna

A gradient-based optimization method for producing a contoured beam by using a single-fed reflector antenna is presented. First, a quick and accurate pattern approximation formula based on physical optics(PO) is adopted to calculate the gradients of the directivity with respect to reflector's nodal displacements. Because the approximation formula is a linear function of nodal displacements, the gradient can be easily derived. Then, the method of the steepest descent is adopted, and an optimization iteration procedure is proposed. The iteration procedure includes two loops: an inner loop and an outer loop. In the inner loop, the gradient and pattern are calculated by matrix operation, which is very fast by using the pre-calculated data in the outer loop. In the outer loop, the ideal terms used in the inner loop to calculate the gradient and pattern are updated, and the real pattern is calculated by the PO method. Due to the high approximation accuracy, when the outer loop is performed once, the inner loop can be performed many times, which will save much time because the integration is replaced by matrix operation. In the end, a contoured beam covering the continental United States(CONUS) is designed, and simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

B-spline surface fitting and simplified GO/PO analysis of subreflector correction for large Cassegrain antenna distortion compensation

The main surface of a large Cassegrain antenna consists of a large number of panels. There are inevitably random and systematic errors which will degrade the antenna pattern and limit its applicability when working at high frequencies. Correcting the subreflector surface is difficult to describe by a global expansion effectively with a small amount of data. This paper presents a simple and clear way for correcting the subreflector surface of a large Cassegrain antenna for achieving such compensation. The advantage of the method is that the geometrical optics （GO） analysis is extremely simplified by the concept of equivalent prime-focus paraboloid, and corrected deformations of the subreflector surface are determined by simple formulas which represent the relationship between distortions of the subreflector surface and phase of the main surface current. The final shape of the subreflector surface is represented by a B-spline surface. To obtain a satisfactory antenna pattern with the simplest subreflector surface, the optimal number of B-spline patches are searched by particle swarm optimization （PSO）. The shaping process is verified by compensating a 22-m Cassegrain antenna whose main reflector has 96 panels. The results are satisfactory and demonstrate the simplicity and effectiveness of the approach.

Influence and experiment of cable-net manufacturing errors on surface accuracy of mesh reflector antennas

Cable-net structures are of substantial importance in the construction of large mesh reflector antennas.Owing to the inevitable errors in their manufacturing process,the reflector surface accuracy deteriorates.This study makes a comprehensive investigation of random manufacturing errors during constructing the mesh reflector antennas,and analyze its influence on reflector surface accuracy.Firstly,the sensitivity of reflector surface accuracy with respect to the random errors of the unstressed cable length is mathematically deducted.Secondly,a non-button connecting method is proposed and analyzed to reduce manufacturing errors.Thirdly,two physical experiment models based on 2.62-meter mesh reflector antenna are made.Finally,numerical examples and experimental tests are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.Compared with the traditional method,the proposed method can effectively reduce the influence of the manufacturing errors on the reflector surface accuracy.Moreover,the reduction in the sizes of the nodes also reduces the risk of entanglement of the mesh reflector antenna during the deployment process,and thereby improves the deployment reliability.

An adjustment method for active reflector of large high-frequency antennas considering gain and boresight

The design of the Qitai 110 m Radio Telescope（QTT） with large aperture and very high working frequency（115 GHz） was investigated in Xinjiang, China. The results lead to a main reflector with high surface precision and high pointing precision. In this paper, the properties of active surface adjustment in a deformed parabolic reflector antenna are analyzed. To assure the performance of large reflector antennas such as gain and boresight, which can be obtained by utilizing an electromechanical coupling model, and satisfy them simultaneously, research on active surface adjustment applied to a new parabolic reflector as target surface has been done. Based on the initial position of actuators and the relationship between adjustment points and target points, a novel mathematical model and a program thatdirectly calculates the movements of actuators have been developed for guiding the active surface adjustment of large reflector antennas. This adjustment method is applied to an 8 m reflector antenna,in which we only consider gravity deformation. The results show that this method is more efficient in adjusting the surface and improving the working performance.

Hybrid-panel-based new design idea for large reflector antenna

Large reflector antennas are widely used as radio telescopes and active main reflectors are generally applied to improve the surface accuracy. Considering that the high cost has been one important problem in engineering, it is worth discussing whether it is necessary to install actuators on all the panels. Thus, in this paper, a hybrid-panel-based new design idea for large reflector antenna is proposed. Assuming that the actuators are installed only in the region of the reflector with large deformations and there are no actuators in other region to reduce the actuator number, the surface accuracies and the corresponding electromagnetic(EM) performances calculated by three different panel adjustment strategies are compared. The most effective method is that the deformed reflector should be first preadjusted to reduce the gravity deformation and then the panels equipped with actuators should be adjusted to the locations determined by the best fitting reflector(BFR) derived by the deformed reflector with no actuators. A 35 m reflector antenna is adopted as an example to calculate the surface accuracy and EM performance when parts of the panels are equipped with actuators. The simulation results show that there is no need to install actuators on all panels and the presented method can greatly reduce the number of actuators with guaranteed surface accuracy. Thus, during the antenna structural design phase, once the surface accuracy requirement is given, the number of actuators can be minimized to reduce the manufacturing and maintenance costs as much as possible. This paper can provide valuable guidance for the design of an active main reflector with hybrid panels.

A New Reflector Antenna Based on the Fresnel Principle

A new type of reflector antenne is proposed, which applies the 1 D Fresnel zone phase correction to the classical parabolic cylindrical reflector, providing an alternative to the dual parabolic cylindrical ones discussed by Sanad and Shafai [1] . The focusing characteristics of the new reflector are analyzed by physical optics method, and numerical results are illustrated to evaluate its applicability.

Electromagnetic performance analysis of reflectorantennas with non-uniform errors along radius

Based on the works of Greve and Rahmat-Samii, theelectromagnetic （EM） performance of the reflector antenna withnon-uniform surface errors along radius is further addressed. Amathematical model is developed to describe the weighting functionfor the non-uniform surface errors along radius. Then, somediscussions on the peak gain loss （PGL） and the first sidelobelevel increase （SLLI） caused by the non-uniform surface errors arepresented and several significant radiation characteristics of thereflector with non-uniform errors are pointed out. Last, based onthe proposed model, the weighted root mean square （RMS） valueof the surface errors is produced to evaluate the EM performanceand several representative cases with different non-uniform errorsare presented with good results. Results show that the weightedRMS value should be taken into account for a better quality evaluationof the reflector surface.

The Tianma 65 m radio telescope antenna

The Tianma 65 m radio telescope(TMRT)at Shanghai is a fully steerable single-dish radio telescope in China,operating at centimeter to millimeter wavelengths(1.25 GHz to 50 GHz).This paper presents details on the main specifications,design,performance analysis,testing,and construction of the telescope antenna.The measured total efficiency is better than 50%over the whole elevation angle range,first sidelobe levels are less than−20 dB,antenna system noise temperatures are less than 70 K at 30°elevation angle,and pointing accuracy is less than 3″.The measured and calculated results are in good agreement,verifying the effectiveness of the design and analysis.

Form-fnding methods for deployable mesh reflector antennas

Deployable high-frequency mesh reflector antennas for future communications and obser- vations are required to obtain high gain and high directivity. In order to support these new missions, reflectors with high surface accuracy are widely required. The form-finding analysis of deployable mesh reflector antennas becomes more vital which aims to determine the initial surface profile formed by the equilibrium prestress distribution in cables to satisfy the surface accuracy requirement. In this paper, two form-finding methods for mesh reflector antennas, both of which include two steps, are pro- posed. The first step is to investigate the prestress design only for the cable net structure as the circum- ferential nodes connected to the supporting truss are assumed fixed. The second step is to optimize the prestress distribution of the boundary cables connected directly to the supporting truss considering the elastic deformation of the antenna structure. Some numerical examples are carried out and the simulation results demonstrate the proposed form-finding methods can warrant the deformed antenna reflector surface matches the one by design and the cable tension forces fall in a specified range.

Lightweight Design of Spaceborne CFRP Rigid Antenna Reflector

In order to overcome the shortcoming of space-borne rigid antenna reflector made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic(CFRP)skins with aluminum honeycomb sandwich(SAHS)structure,a new type of full CFRP skin plus rib(SPR)structure ring-focused parabolic surface antenna reflector with the size of 2.5 m×1.9 m is designed.Under the condition that the original caliber,surface type,and interface remain unchanged,the main influence factors are designed and controlled.First,from the perspective of high stiffness,lightweight,and easy to form,a finite element simulation software is used to analyze and optimize the layout of the rib,the cross-sectional shape of the rib,the size of the rib,and the matching of the size and the coefficients of thermal expansion(CTEs)of the rib and the skin.Second,two structures are prepared by the autoclave molding process.Third,the weight and the surface precision root mean square(RMS)value are measured.The results show that the fundamental frequency of the SPR structure is 142.2 Hz,which is 3.5 Hz higher;the number of the new structural parts is reduced by 40%,and the forming process is greatly simplified.The total weight of the new structure is 11.9 kg,lighter 42.5%,indicating that the weight loss is obvious.The RMS value is 0.15 mm,which is slightly lower 0.01 mm but satisfies the accuracy requirement not greater than 0.3 mm.It is proved that the SPR structure reflector is a superior structure of the lightweight spaceborne antenna reflector.

Theoretical analysis of a parabolic torus reflector antenna with multibeam

The parametric equations and the formulas of unit normal vector and surface element for aparabolic torus reflector antenna are derived and the mechanism of producing multibeam is proposed, Based on physical optics, the radiation pattern formulas for the antenna are given, with which the effects of geometric parameters on the antenna are studied. The good agreement between the calculated patterns and the measured ones shows that the theory is helpful for designing parabolic torus antennas.

SHAPED DUAL-REFLECTOR ANTENNA WITH RING FOCUS

The equations of the reflector contours and the radiation patterns of the shaped dual-reflector antenna have been derived, and the methods of designing the antenna are also intro-duced briefly. The calculated and measured results suggest that this new type of antennahas the advantages of low VSWR (voltage standing-wave ratio), low sidelobe, and high gain.Therefore it opens a bright prospect for the improvement of mid-and small-aperture anten-na performance, and gives the possibility for the realization of the 1990s new standard spec-ified by CCIR (International Radio Consultative Committee) on mid-and small-aperture an-tenna for satellite-communication earth stations.

The Design of an Elliptical Reflector in the Gaussian-like Antenna Used in HT-7 ECRH System

The structure of the antenna which will be used in HT-7 tokamak electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) experiment and the design of its key component (the elliptical reflector) were introduced. A quasi-Gaussian TE11 wave sent from the TE01-TE11 mode converter was reflected by two mirrors from the waveguide aperture to the plasma center area. One of the two mirrors is a plane mirror and the other is an elliptical mirror. In this process, the wave beam will be converged by the two reflecting mirrors and the emissive direction of the wave is also controlled by them. As requested physically for ECRH experiment, the arrangement of the two mirrors can ensure the wave to be launched from the low-field side of the tour.