General polynomial factorization-based design of sparse periodic linear arrays

We have developed several methods of designing sparse periodic arrays based upon the polynomial factorization method. In these methods, transmit and receive aperture polynomials are selected such that their product results in a polynomial representing the desired combined transmit/receive (T/R) effective aperture function. A desired combined T/R effective aperture is simply an aperture with an appropriate width exhibiting a spectrum that corresponds to the desired two-way radiation pattern. At least one of the two aperture functions that constitute the combined T/R effective aperture function will be a sparse polynomial. A measure of sparsity of the designed array is defined in terms of the element reduction factor. We show that elements of a linear array can be reduced with varying degrees of beam mainlobe width to sidelobe reduction properties.