A comparison of time versus frequency domain antenna patterns

This paper compares the performance of antenna arrays that use sinusoidal and ultra-short pulse waveforms. There are two parts to the paper: first, a comparison of narrowband versus ultra-wideband linear arrays using an analytic approach and second, a series of computer simulations used to extend the analytic results and to show the characteristics of nonstandard array configurations. Analysis shows that antennas using ultra-short waveforms have highly desirable pattern properties that do not appreciably degrade under conditions of high array sparsity, failed elements, or antenna element position errors. Patterns are given that show these properties directly. These results are of particular importance to the emerging technology of base-band or time-domain communications and remote sensing. It addresses the practical problem of designing extremely large aperture space-based arrays without populating those arrays densely with antenna elements and also reducing the traditional fabrication tolerances.