Radiation cones from feed-support struts of symmetric paraboloidal antennas

Abstract

Wide-angle radiation associated with the plane-wave component of the field in the focal space of a paraboloidal reflector is computed by integrating the currents induced on the feed-support struts. This component of radiation is locally maximum on radiation cones which lie along the axis of each strut. Comparison with data measured for the Dwingeloo radio telescope indicates good agreement for the position, width, and intensity of these cones, even at levels 50 dB below the peak of the main beam.