A Cross-Stacked Radiating Antenna With Enhanced Scanning Performance for Digital Beamforming Multifunction Phased-Array Radars

Abstract

This contribution presents the results of a dual-polarized radiating element designed to achieve low cross-polarization (lower than -40 dB measured for the E-and H-plane, at least -30 dB in the D-plane based on simulations) and large fractional bandwidth (18%) over wide scanning angles (±60°). The proposed design includes multiple features that enable high isolation between ports, reduction of spurious radiation, highly symmetrical radiated fields, and suppression of diffracted fields between contiguous subarray gaps. To verify the polarimetric requirements for a weather radar, simulated and measured results, including electronic scanning of the array and embedded element patterns of the antenna, are shown.