Design of efficient, easily feed-matched array antennas by joint optimisation of excitations and element geometry: pencil beam example

By using simulated annealing for simultaneous optimisation of the geometries and excitations of the array elements, it is often possible to design array antennas that generate specified radiation power patterns, have elements with real active impedances, and are easily feed-matched. The example of a twelve-element pencil beam antenna fed by coaxial cables of practical dimensions with no additional circuitry is described