Edge effects in finite arrays of uniform slits on a ground plane

The results obtained by modeling a linear array as an infinite periodic structure can be used for the analysis of finite arrays as the zero-order approximation of a perturbation technique. This idea is utilized to investigate the edge effects in two arrays of uniform slits fed by parallel-plate waveguides terminated on a ground plane. It is shown that the realized gain pattern of an element depends substantially upon its position in the array. This is true particularly for the deep resonance notches in the patterns which are present for certain element spacings. When the array is excited with uniform magnitude and linear phase, the aperture voltages are the superposition of a term, corresponding to the infinite array model, plus another correction term (a "spatial transient") representing the edge effect. The influence of this term is particularly relevant when the array is scanned at endfire. In such a case, the method introduced here allows the prediction of the element terminal admittances and the array pattern, while according to the infinite array model no radiation would be permitted.