Optimal Surface Adjustment by the Error-Transformation Matrix for a Segmented-Reflector Antenna

Panel-setting errors associated with a segmented primary reflector limit the electrical performance of the antenna. This paper addresses the influence of panel-setting errors on the electrical performance, in order to determine realistic error budgets, and to adjust the reflector-surface accuracy for such antennas. From the viewpoint of electromechanical coupling, an approximate expression for the error-transformation matrix (ETM) between the panel-setting errors and the aperture errors is derived. By comparing the numerical simulations with experimental results, it is found that the error in the error-transformation matrix is less than 11%. Based on the error-transformation matrix, the surface accuracy is adjusted by optimizing the panel-adjustment value. The numerical simulations showed that the results may be applied to antennas with realistic panel schemes, for prediction of their electrical performance and surface adjustment.