The high-power radial line helical array antenna

This paper describes a novel antenna called the high-power radial line helical array antenna to realize the directional radiation of high-power microwave. This array uses short helical antenna as its radiation element, each helix is excited by the energy coupled by a probe from a radial waveguide. Helices and probes are arranged to form a circular array. This antenna accepts directly an azimuthally symmetric output of a high-power microwave source and radiates a high-gain pattern with a boresight peak. The probe is designed to be able to fix on the radial line directly (without the need for medium support), which makes the array antenna compatible with the intense electric fields associated with high-power microwave sources. In addition, the array antenna has a simple structure and can project circularly polarized electric field. This paper presents the fundamental conception of operation, derives pertinent design and performance, and gives the measured characteristics of an antenna prototype.