Low Cross-Polarization Vivaldi Arrays
- 1 April 2018
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation
- Vol. 66 (4), 1827-1837
- https://doi.org/10.1109/TAP.2018.2809492
Abstract
This paper introduces a Vivaldi-type ultra-wideband antenna array with low cross-polarization, termed the Sliced Notch Antenna (SNA) array. High cross-polarization when scanning in the non-principal planes has long been a problem in Vivaldi arrays without a universal solution. In this paper, we shed light on the root cause of this long-standing issue, clarifying that a high ratio of vertical-to-horizontal current potentials along the upper radiator fin is primarily responsible for elevated cross-polarization (and not strictly the element profile). This finding therein motivates the main technical innovation in the present work-a simple reconfiguration of the upper Vivaldi fin into a series of coupled conductor segments to effectively control the aforementioned current ratio for significant reductions in cross-polarization, without reducing element profile or considerably hindering the excellent match and radiation efficiency of the original Vivaldi. Theory and design methodology for the SNA array are formulated, and followed by a concise set of design guidelines that are applied to reconfigure a representative 10:1 Vivaldi element into an SNA for practical reference, exhibiting a 20 dB reduction in peak cross-polarization ratio. This paper considers the case of single-polarized arrays as a first introduction to the SNA, though the method has been verified to work equally well (if not better) in dual-polarized arrays.Keywords
Funding Information
- U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
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