Optimization of Far-Field Antenna Range

Abstract

Measurements of test antennas are performed on antenna ranges. The operated microwave far-field outdoor range was built-up in 1970’s and therefore it was not appropriate for the today measurements. Thus, it was decided to perform the complete reconstruction and testing. Some results of new ample measurement campaign are just given. The optimization of antenna range using merely measurement is very inefficient, and therefore that is done by numerical simulations. Consequently the paper surveys briefly electromagnetic wave propagation over irregular terrain. The physical optics approximation of vector problem was chosen. That allows the comparison of selected numerical simulations and measurements for the reconstructed far-field range. A possibility of antenna range optimizing by using numerical simulation considering various constraints is verified.

Keywords

• Microwave antenna
• antenna measurements
• irregular surface
• physical optics
• numerical analysis
• experiments