Design of a low-loss low-noise tapered slot phased array feed for reflector antennas

Upgrading the Multi-Frequency-Front-Ends of the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT) by multiple-beam phased array feeds will improve its survey speed by a factor 20. The present paper describes two design steps of the dual-polarized tapered slot antenna (TSA) array required for this upgrade. Redesign of the TSA element, integration of the Low Noise Amplifier on the feed line substrate and a more rigid connection between the elements improved the low-noise performance, stability and reproducibility of the array. Although, the described array is aimed to be used as a phased array feed, the approach is also applicable in directly radiating beam-steering antenna arrays.