Compact-range accuracy improvement: ground-reflection-error mitigation using surface patterning [AMTA corner]

Compact-range measurement facilities have been used successfully for many years to characterize antenna performance as well as radar signatures. This paper investigates strategies for improving compact-range-measurement accuracy by mitigating errors associated with ground reflections inherent in most range designs. A methodology is developed for strategically modifying, or patterning, the surface between the range´s source antenna and the reflector to reduce error terms, thereby increasing measurement accuracy. Candidate patterns were evaluated using a full-wave computational Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) model at VHF/UHF frequencies to determine baseline performance, and to develop trade rules for more advanced designs. Physical Optics (PO) models were used to analyze the final design at the frequencies of interest.