Experimental code verification results for reflector antenna distortion compensation by array feeds

Abstract

Electronic compensation of reflector surface distortion using array feed with individual amplitude and phase control of the array elements is becoming increasingly attractive because of the recent advances in monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) technology. An algorithm has been developed previously using the concept of focal plane conjugate field matching in the receive mode and a computer code has been generated that predicts the proper excitation coefficients for the elements of the reflector feed array to compensate the effects of reflector surface distortion. This paper presents the results of an experimental study to verify the above compensation algorithm and in general to demonstrate the effectiveness of the array feed compensation technique.