An L-Band Interferometer Antenna Array using Leaky-Wave Corrected, Unsymmetrical Sectoral Horns

The author presents a 32¿ interferometer L-band array, part of an air-ground experimental data link system. The array is made of 8 E-plane wide angle sectoral horns using a technique of unsymmetrical leaky-wave correction in order to synthesize the required pattern: cosecant with high multipath rejection. This new development of a previous work is theoretically analyzed with simplifying assumptions, and an expression of the radiation diagram is derived which is compared to the measured pattern showing satisfactory results. Flight test results indicate an accuracy of 0.02° on the interferometer axis.