Effects of Nonuniform Surface Errors Along the Radius on Reflector’s Radiation Characteristic and Its Quality Evaluation

Abstract

Based on the works of Yahya Rahmat-Samii, a multiobjective optimization model is developed to analyze the effects of surface errors’ nonuniformity along the radius on the reflector’s radiation characteristic. Through the optimization model, Pareto front for trading off the peak gain loss (PGL) and the first sidelobe level increase (SLLI) is obtained. Simulations clearly show that for the same root mean square (rms) error for the whole reflector, different distributions along the radius result in different PGLs and first SLLIs. Then, the weighting function of the rms errors is considered and the evaluation formula of PGL is successfully applied to nonuniform errors. It is concluded that besides the radius, the amplitude aperture distribution, and the ratio of focal length to diameter (F/D), errors’ nonuniformity is also an important factor that should be considered in the procedure of the quality evaluation of the reflector surface.