Sector radiation pattern synthesis for antenna arrays

Formulation of the problem. In numerous applications, sector radiation patterns of antennas are subject to stringent requirements concerning main-lobe uniformity within the operational sector, transition-slope steepness, and sidelobe levels. Classical synthesis methods for linear antenna arrays typically neglect the actual directivity of individual elements, while data on optimal amplitude-phase distributions for high-quality sector patterns remain virtually unavailable.

Purpose. To obtain quasi-optimal amplitude-phase distributions via parametric optimization for the synthesis of enhanced-quality sector radiation patterns using an equidistant linear antenna array, including the development of an objective function to be minimized, which incorporates angle-dependent weighting of the root-mean-square deviation.

Results. Parametric optimization of an 8-element linear antenna array was performed, yielding a set of quasi-optimal amplitude-phase distributions that enable synthesis of sector radiation patterns (60° width) with improved characteristics. Dependencies between the profile of the piecewise-constant weight function employed in the objective function and key sector-pattern metrics were established, enabling targeted adjustment of main-lobe ripple, sidelobe level, and transition steepness. It is demonstrated that transitioning to a curvilinear weight-function profile, optimized according to sector-pattern requirements both within the operational sector and in the suppression zone, represents a promising direction.

Practical significance. Angle-dependent weighting of the root-mean-square deviation facilitates synthesis of sector radiation patterns with enhanced parameters, including scenarios accounting for the actual element patterns of the antenna array.