On grating nulls in adaptive arrays

The effect of element patterns on grating nulls in adaptive arrays is considered. Two simple array models, a two-element and a three-element array with dipole element patterns, are used to study this question. The element patterns are assumed unequal (i.e., the beam maxima point in different directions). It is shown that element patterns greatly affect the occurrence of grating nulls in the array. Unequal element patterns cause extra grating nulls ("sign reversal grating nulls") to occur, in addition to conventional grating nulls. These sign reversal grating nulls can occur even with element spacing less than a half-wavelength. For a two-element array with dipole element patterns, it turns out that grating nulls cannot be avoided if the spacing is greater than a half-wavelength. However, with more than two elements, the situation is not so bleak. An example is given of a three-element array with dipole patterns and one-wavelength spacing in which all grating nulls are eliminated.