Grating lobes in the scattering patterns of edge-loaded strips

The scattering patterns from perfectly conducting strips with constant resistive edge loads have periodic grating lobes that rise above the reduced relative sidelobe levels. These grating lobes are a function of the resistive load width and seriously limit scattering sidelobe reduction. Neither tapering the resistivity of the load nor adding more resistive loads of the same width will further reduce the maximum sidelobe level. Equations for predicting the size and location of the grating lobes are derived. In addition, optimum edge loads that produce the smallest maximum sidelobe level are derived