Title :
A 324-Element Vivaldi Antenna Array for Radio Astronomy Instrumentation
Author :
Reid, Edwin Walter ; Ortiz-Balbuena, Laura ; Ghadiri, Aliakbar ; Moez, Kambiz
Author_Institution :
Radio Freq. Works, St. Albert, AB, Canada
Abstract :
This paper presents a 324-element 2-D broadside array for radio astronomy instrumentation which is sensitive to two mutually orthogonal polarizations. The array is composed of cruciform units consisting of a group of four Vivaldi antennas arranged in a cross-shaped structure. The Vivaldi antenna used in this array exhibits a radiation intensity characteristic with a symmetrical main beam of 87.5° at 3 GHz and 44.2° at 6 GHz. The measured maximum side/backlobe level is 10.3 dB below the main beam level. The array can operate at a high frequency of 5.4 GHz without the formation of grating lobes.
Keywords :
antenna arrays; astronomical instruments; radioastronomy; cross-shaped structure; cruciform units; element 2-D broadside array; element Vivaldi antenna array; frequency 3 GHz; frequency 5.4 GHz; frequency 6 GHz; grating lobes; orthogonal polarizations; radiation intensity; radio astronomy instrumentation; Antenna measurements; Antenna radiation patterns; Arrays; Coplanar waveguides; Extraterrestrial measurements; Vivaldi antennas; Radio astronomy instrumentation; Vivaldi antenna; ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna;
Journal_Title :
Instrumentation and Measurement, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TIM.2011.2159414
