On the implementation of global interpolating functions for shaped reflector antennas

The synthesis of microwave reflector antennas yields numerically defined surfaces which must be interpolated in order to permit the evaluation of the radiation field and its check against designer specifications, which usually requires a considerable computational effort. Aiming at the optimization of this process, the implementation of two global interpolating functions-quintic pseudo-splines (QPS) and polynomial Fourier series (PFS)-was explored towards its application to the synthesis of a highly shaped reflector antenna for use in nodal stations. The versatility and greater stability of the former was then ascertained. New aspects of their applicability to the synthesis and analysis of reflector antennas based on extended numerical tests, including dual shaped offset systems, are reported. Also, the application of a third interpolating function, the Jacobi polynomial sinusoidal expansion (JPSE), to the global representation of numerically defined reflectors is investigated