DocumentCode :
738044
Title :
Accurate Beam Prediction Through Characteristic Basis Function Patterns for the MeerKAT/SKA Radio Telescope Antenna
Author :
Young, Abram ; Maaskant, R. ; Ivashina, M.V. ; de Villiers, Dirk I. L. ; Davidson, D.B.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. & Electron. Eng., Univ. of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Volume :
61
Issue :
5
fYear :
2013
fDate :
5/1/2013 12:00:00 AM
Firstpage :
2466
Lastpage :
2473
Abstract :
A novel beam expansion method is presented that requires employing only a few Characteristic Basis Function Patterns (CBFPs) for the accurate prediction of antenna beam patterns. The method is applied to a proposed design of the MeerKAT/SKA radio telescope, whose antenna geometry is subject to small deformations caused by mechanical or gravitational forces. The resulting deformed pattern, which is affected in a nonlinear fashion by these deformations is then sampled in a few directions only after which the interpolatory CBFPs accurately predict the entire beam shape (beam calibration). The procedure for generating a set of CBFPs - and determining their expansion coefficients using a few reference point sources in the sky - is explained, and the error of the final predicted pattern relative to the actual pattern is examined. The proposed method shows excellent beam prediction capabilities, which is an important step forward towards the development of efficient beam calibration methods for future imaging antenna systems.
Keywords :
antennas; calibration; radiotelescopes; MeerKAT SKA Radio Telescope Antenna; antenna beam pattern; antenna geometry; beam calibration; beam prediction; characteristic basis function pattern; deformation; expansion coefficient; gravitational forces; mechanical forces; Accuracy; Antenna measurements; Calibration; Directive antennas; Testing; Vectors; Beam modeling; calibration; characteristic basis function patterns; radio telescopes; reflector antennas;
fLanguage :
English
Journal_Title :
Antennas and Propagation, IEEE Transactions on
Publisher :
ieee
ISSN :
0018-926X
Type :
jour
DOI :
10.1109/TAP.2013.2239954
Filename :
6410349
Link To Document :
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