Experimental assessment and compensation of the interaction between modulated probe arrays and antenna under test in cylindrical rapid near-field measurements

Rapid near-field measurements can be performed by using a probe array instead of mechanical scanning a single probe. However, among possible objections against using probe arrays, the interaction between the probe array and the antenna under test were expected to limit the accuracy of near-field measurements. Through a careful assessment of the interaction mechanisms with a linear probe array operating in the 1 GHz to 10 GHz frequency band, the uncertainty on the far-field pattern accuracy has been quantified. The pattern coherent averaging technique is shown to be particularly suitable for rapid measurements and to provide an error on the far-field pattern of the order 2 dB peak to peak at ¿35 dB below the main lobe level, in the case of a reflector test antenna.