Dielectric resonator probe arrays with sectoral hard horn for wideband spatial power combiners/dividers

Analysis of dielectric resonator probe (DRP) arrays operating in an oversized hard waveguide with sectoral hard horn excitation is presented. A single DRP excited by a coaxial probe is first investigated inside a hollow rectangular waveguide and a waveguide loaded with hard walls, respectively. Simulation results are compared with measurement results and show a good agreement. Then, a one-dimensional DRP array is analysed inside a dielectric-loaded, oversized waveguide with sectoral hard horn excitation. A full-wave analysis based on the region-by-region finite-difference time-domain technique is applied for the optimisation of array parameters such as inter-element coupling, active reflection coefficients and uniform excitation. Numerical results are compared with those generated by using commercial software and exhibit a very good agreement.