ADVANCED TOPICS ON ANTENNA TECHNOLOGIES

New trends in Aperture Antennas

Master of Science in Signal Theory and Communications
TRACK: RF TECHNOLOGIES AND SYSTEMS

Departamento de Señales, Sistemas y Radiocomunicaciones

E.T.S. Ingenieros de Telecomunicación
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Aperture antennas: Horns and reflectors

Aperture
antennas are
those in which
radiation • Physic aperture: Horns
characteristics
and slots
Horns
are
determined • Projected aperture:
from the
electric and Reflectors and lenses
magnetic fields
across an
aperture
Slots

• Tangential electric and

magnetic fields on the
Equivalence
principles aperture are replaced
by equivalent electric
and magnetic currents Reflectors

MSTC. ATAT 2
Aperture antennas: Horns and reflectors

Reflector antennas : they use a

Horns: are used as independent
antennas or as reflector feeders
continuous or gridded metallic
structure to concentrate the low
directive radiation from a small feeder
into a collimated beam of high
directivity

MUIT. Antenas 3
Aperture Antennas. Radiation model

Aperture fields
HUYGENS PRINCIPLE 
E a  x E ax x , y   y E ay x , y 

H a  x H ax x , y   y H ay x , y 
Radiated fields (2º EP):
E  r, ,  = jk
e-jkr
2 r

Px cos   Py s e n  
E  r, ,  =  jk
e-jkr
2 r

cos  Px s e n   Py cos  
where:
r̂  sen  cos x̂  sen  sen ŷ  cos ẑ

r   x x̂  y ŷ
Each point in a phase font acts as 
kr̂  r  
2
ux   vy 
u  sen  cos 
a source which generates  v  sen  sen 

Px , y u, v    E ax ,ay x, y e j  ux vy  dxdy

2
spherical waves that interfere
(add) each other , generating a Sa

radiation pattern in far field R. pattern Inverse Fourier Transform

of Aperture field
Px,y(u,v)
MUIT. Antenas 4
Aperture antennas. Directivity

In well focused apertures (fields in phase at the aperture),

maximum of radiation is at =0º, and directivity is given by:

For an
4 aperture
D0  SA Aperture
2 uniformly illumination
efficiency (A) gives
illuminated a means of how Typical
well the aperture is
SA: Aperture surface efficiencies are
used, that is, how
uniform is the around 0.5 and
For other illumination field in 0.8
amplitud and
4 apertures with
D0   A S phase. In general
2 A non uniform A≤1 with Aeff= ASA
illumination
Aeff=Effective surface

MUIT. Antenas 5
 HORNS. Types
Pyramidal horns Open waveguides with chokes Corrugated horns

Smooth walled conical horns

Coaxial horns

Horns are well

adapted structures
Dielectric-loaded horns
in broad bands.
They get directive
beams wit medium
gains (10-25 dBi).

MSTC. ATAT 6
Pyramidal horns. Geometry

Pyramidal horns are the extension of a rectangular waveguide of axb dimension, being a
the wide side of the WG. Aperture has a dimension A in H plane and B in E plane (with “y”
polarization)

Pyramidal Horn Sectorial H Plane Horn Sectorial E Plane Horn

B
E
a E
b E
A
B=b A=a

Input waveguide is supposed to propagate exclusively the fundamental mode TE10.

2
 x - j  z 
1-  
E TE10 = yˆ E 0 cos e g g = o
 
a  2a 
MSTC. ATAT 7
 Pyramidal horns. Aperture fields
Aperture field has a cosine distribution following the wide side of
  x  - j( /2)( 2 / + y2 / )
Ea = ŷEo cos  e
the aperture, with a phase error associated to the propagation x R1 R2
inside the flared zone
A

Field amplitude in the

aperture is the expansion of Quadratic phase aperture field is due to the
TE10 mode field over A (to spherical waves propagating in E and H plane
maintain contour condition in the flared zone
of Et(x=±A/2) = 0 )
x2 y2
R ( y)  R 2  y  R 2 
2
R ( x )  R 1  x  R 1 
2 2 2
y 2R 2
2R 1

B x
TE10 R

These quadratic phases generate a phase error that makes the efficiency diminish below
0.8 (value for a cosine distribution in large horns without phase error)
MSTC. ATAT 8
 Pyramidal horns. Universal patterns
Sectorial E plane Sectorial H plane
B2
s= A2
8 R2 t
8R1
Relative field

Relative field

(E Plane)
(H Plane) (E Plane)
2
k o  A 
2
ko  B  2
B = 2s = 2 A
2
= 2t
 max =   = 2 max =  
2R21  2  8 R2 2R1  2  8R 1
𝐵𝑜𝑝𝑡 = 2𝜆𝑅2 𝐴𝑜𝑝𝑡 = 3𝜆𝑅1
MSTC. ATAT 9
Pyramidal horns. Directivity
Sectorial E plane Sectorial H plane

    
Dp =  D E  D H 
32  A   B 
MSTC. ATAT 10
Pyramidal horns. Radiated field

y
32AB
G= G E  G H
2

 AB 
x G = 8.1  10 log 10  2  (dBi)
 

4 41253
D= 
BW3dB , E BW3dB, H BW3dB, E º BW3dB , H º 

z
54 78
BW3dB , E  BW3dB , H 
B A
MSTC. ATAT 11
Pyramidal horns. Summary

Sectorial horns (E plane Pyramidal horns allow

and H plane) can be to obtain directive
analysed using previous patterns in both E and H
patterns taking a phase planes, controlling both
error =0 in the non flared beam widths in an
plane). independent way.

Pyramidal horns of low

Pyramidal horns have to phase error (s,t<0.15)
meet the constrain that should be very large
fixes RE = RH, to be able and they get efficiencies
to made a correct around 0.8. Optimum
junction with the input pyramidal horns have
waveguide. an efficiency of 0.5.

MSTC. ATAT 12
Smooth-wall conical horns. Geometry and aperture fields

Are the natural extension of a circular waveguide y

  a x
In pure-mode conical horns: Eap = Eapx x  Eapy y
L z

aperture field is r´
approximated by the
amplitude distribution of ´
input waveguide
fundamental mode (TE11)
expanded over the aperture


 j    r  2 L 
And a spherical phase Eapx  E 0 J 2  K11r  sen2 e
distribution, as if the field
 
emanates from cone apex.

Eapy  E 0 J 0  K11r   J 2  K11r  cos2  e   j    r  2 L

K11=1.8412/a.

MSTC. ATAT 13
Smooth-wall conical horns. Universal patterns

Considering the maximum phase error as s  a 2 2L universal radiation

patterns in E and H planes, without including the obliquity factors, are:

E Plane H Plane

a2 a2
s s
2L 2L
Field intensity

Field intensity
y x
0,6
a a

Eapy 1 Eapy 1

-a -a

2 a   sen  2 a   sen 

MSTC. ATAT 14
Smooth walled conical horns. XP level

Beam width
dB

2a   sen  2a   sen  A (dB)

d≈1.1 λ

Maximum XP level at =45º for low

phase error horn (S<0,1)
A- Chu model (1st E.P.)
B- Electric field model (2º E.P.) with
superimposed measurements

MSTC. ATAT 15
Corrugated horns. Aperture field and radiation pattern
Rotationally symmetric radiation
Aperture field get with corrugations patterns with low XP radiation. Ideal as
is an equilibrated hybrid mode HE11 feed for a reflector
with the following properties:
y

Field lines straight and r´ x

parallels ´

a2
s
Symmetry in 2L
amplitude, with a taper   2.405r    jr  2 L
0 e
Eap = 
y J
to the edge, and a null  a 
field in the edge.

d
y

x
Spherical phase  a
variation . Centre in the
2a   sen 
apex of the cone. L z

d
MSTC. ATAT 4 16
Smooth walled multimode horns

An aperture distribution similar to that of a corrugated horn can be get with a

smooth-walled conical horn

Changes in flare angle produce

an amount of TM11 that added
in the aperture to the TE11 get
Potter
straight field lines in the
aperture with a field distribution
similar to that of HE11 mode in
corrugated horns

Turrin

TE11 TM11  HE11

They work in narrow band (6-8%)

MSTC. ATAT 17
Serpentine multimode horns. Low XP. Band 5-15%

MSTC. ATAT 18
Profiles for conical horns
𝑧
Linear 𝑎 𝑧 = 𝑎𝑖 + 𝑎0 − 𝑎𝑖
𝐿

𝑧 𝝅 𝑧
Sinusoidal 𝑎 𝑧 = 𝑎𝑖 + 𝑎0 − 𝑎𝑖 1−𝐴 + 𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜌 𝐴 ∈ 0; 1
𝐿 𝟐 𝐿

2 𝑎0 − 𝑎𝑖 𝜋𝑧 𝐿𝟐
𝑎𝑖 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 0 ≤ 𝒛 ≤ 𝐿1 𝛾=
Asymmetric Sine 1+𝛾 4𝐿1 𝐿𝟏
Squared
𝑎 𝑧 =
2 𝑎0 − 𝑎𝑖 𝜋 𝑧 + 𝐿2 − 𝐿1 1−𝛾
𝑎𝑖 + 𝛾𝑠𝑖𝑛2 + 𝑳𝟏 ≤ 𝒛 ≤ 𝐿1 + 𝐿2
1+𝛾 4𝐿1 2

𝑧 𝝅 𝑧
Tangential 𝑎 𝑧 = 𝑎𝑖 + 𝑎0 − 𝑎𝑖 1−𝐴 + 𝐴𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜌 𝐴 ∈ 0; 1
𝐿 𝟐 𝐿
Profile
𝑧 𝑧 𝜌
XP 𝑎 𝑧 = 𝑎𝑖 + 𝑎0 − 𝑎𝑖 1−𝐴 +𝐴 𝐴 ∈ 0; 1
𝐿 𝐿

ρ controls SSL and XP

Exponential 𝑎0 𝑧 0≤ρ≤∞ Typically ρ=2
𝑎 𝑧 = 𝑎𝑖 + exp ln 𝐴 ∈ 0; 1
𝑎𝑖 𝐿

2
𝑧 2 + 𝑎0 2 − 𝑎𝑖 2
Hyperbolic 𝑎 𝑧 = 𝑎𝑖 +
𝐿2

𝜌𝑧 𝑧 𝜌
Polynomic 𝑎 𝑧 = 𝑎𝑖 + 𝜌 + 1 𝑎0 − 𝑎𝑖 1−
𝜌+1 𝐿
MSTC. ATAT 19
Profiles for conical horns

MSTC. ATAT 20
WIDE BAND HORNS
Coupling to Ku
Rectangular
Waveguide
Choke Ku Feeder

Air Cilindrical Ka Waveguide

Rod Ka feeder To Ka septum polariser

TYPE Transition to Dielectric Rod

Coaxial horn Corrugated horn

Dielectric loaded
with wide band Ridge horns
( fmax/fmin>2.5) horns
transformers

MSTC. ATAT 21
WIDE BAND HORNS. COAXIAL
Coaxial design

fmax/fmin>2

fmax inner tube y

fmin external tube
Improve performances

Dielectric loaded to
improve XP
radiation D/d=6.6
ϵr=2.05

D/d=6.6
ϵr=2.5
Irises to improve
return losses at
fmin

MSTC. ATAT 22
WIDE BAND HORNS. COAXIAL
Return losses. Improvement

S11<-20 dB
20% band

MSTC. ATAT 23
WIDE BAND HORNS. Corrugated horns

Variable depth Variable pith- Ring-loaded

slot: to width slot: slots: Frontal
• fmax/fmin <1.8 • fmax/fmin<2.05 • fmax/fmin<2.4 corrugations:
• Legth≈3λ • Length≈3λ • Length≈3λ
• Band 10%-15%
• Machining • Machining • Complexity to
complexity for complexity for machining the ring • Lower length
depth slots depth and thin • Easy to
slots machine

MSTC. ATAT 24
Conical corrugated horns. Design Example

Corrugated horn at C (67% band) • TX: 5.85 GHz – 7.025 GHz

fmax/fmin=1.94 • RX: 3.625 GHz- 4.8 GHz d=6.7 cm
D=37 cm
L=94 cm

Caso BC48
60 Caso BC48
Pérdidas de retorno 0
55 Pico XP
-5
50
-10
45
-15
Pérdidas de retorno (dB)

40
-20
35

Pico XP (dB)
-25
30 -30
25 -35
20 -40
15 -45

10 -50

5 -55

0 -60
3.5 3.75 4 4.25 4.5 4.75 5 5.25 5.5 5.75 6 6.25 6.5 6.75 7 7.25 3.5 3.75 4 4.25 4.5 4.75 5 5.25 5.5 5.75 6 6.25 6.5 6.75 7 7.25
Frecuencia (GHz) Frecuencia (GHz)

MSTC. ATAT 25
Conical corrugated horns. Design Example

Corrugated horn at • WSVR measurements

C (67% band)

MSTC. ATAT 26
Conical corrugated horns. Design Example

Corrugated horn at • WSVR measurements.

C (67% band) Isolated horn

MSTC. ATAT 27
Conical corrugated horns. Design Example

Corrugated horn at • Measured radiation

C (67% band) patterns
RX
TX

MSTC. ATAT 28
 Conical corrugated horns. Design Example

Corrugated horn at Ku/Ka • Ku: 10.7 GHz – 14.5 GHz

band (107.7% band) • K_RX: 19.7 GHz- 20.2 GHz
fmax/fmin=2.8 • Ka_TX: 29.5 GHz – 30 GHz

S11 Comparision . Ku/Ka horn + octogonal transition to WR75 S11 Comparision . Ku/Ka horn + octogonal transition to WR34+ taper S11 Comparision . Ku/Ka horn + octogonal transition to WR34+ taper
WR34-WR42 WR34-WR28
0
0 0
Simulation
Measurements
-5
-5
Simulation Simulation
-5
Measurements Measurements
-10
-10

-15 -15 -10

-20 -20
-15
S11 (dB)

S11 (dB)

S11 (dB)
-25 -25

-30 -20
-30

-35 -35
-25

-40 -40

-30
-45 -45

-50 -50
-35
10 10.5 11 11.5 12 12.5 13 13.5 14 14.5 15 19.5 19.6 19.7 19.8 19.9 20 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5
29.5 29.6 29.7 29.8 29.9 30
Frecquency (GHz) Frecquency (GHz)
Frecquency (GHz)

MSTC. ATAT 29
Conical corrugated horns. Design Example

Ku radiation patterns • 10.7 GHz – 14.5 GHz

MSTC. ATAT 30
 Conical corrugated horns. Design Example

• 19.7 GHz – 20.2 GHz

K/Ka radiation patterns
• 29.5 GHz – 30.0 GHz
Radiation pattern comparision at 19.7 GHz
Ku/Ka horn + octogonal transition to WR75
0

Phi=0º CP. Measurements

Phi=0º CP. Simulation
-5 Phi=45º CP. Measurements
Phi=45º CP. Simulation
Phi=45º XP. Measurements
-10 Phi=45º XP. Simulation
Phi=90º CP. Measurements
Phi=90º CP. Simulation

-15
Gain(dBi)

-20

-25

-30

-35

-40
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Theta (deg)

Radiation pattern comparision at 20.2 GHz Radiation pattern comparision at 29.5 GHz Radiation pattern comparision at 30 GHz
Ku/Ka horn + octogonal transition to WR75 Ku/Ka horn + octogonal transition to WR75 Ku/Ka horn + octogonal transition to WR75
0 0 0

Phi=0º CP. Measurements

Phi=0º CP. Measurements Phi=0º CP. Measurements
Phi=0º CP. Simulation
-5 Phi=45º CP. Measurements
Phi=0º CP. Simulation Phi=0º CP. Simulation
-5 Phi=45º CP. Measurements -5 Phi=45º CP. Measurements
Phi=45º CP. Simulation
Phi=45º XP. Measurements Phi=45º CP. Simulation Phi=45º CP. Simulation
-10 Phi=45º XP. Simulation Phi=45º XP. Measurements Phi=45º XP. Measurements
Phi=90º CP. Measurements -10 Phi=45º XP. Simulation -10 Phi=45º XP. Simulation
Phi=90º CP. Simulation Phi=90º CP. Measurements Phi=90º CP. Measurements
Phi=90º CP. Simulation Phi=90º CP. Simulation
-15

-15 -15
Gain(dBi)

-20
Gain(dBi)

Gain(dBi)
-20 -20

-25

-25 -25
-30

-30 -30
-35

-35 -35
-40
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Theta (deg)

-40 -40
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Theta (deg) Theta (deg)

MSTC. ATAT 31
WIDE BAND HORNS. Frontal Choke

1 choke 2 chokes 3 chokes 4 chokes

• fmax/fmin • fmax/fmin • fmax/fmin • fmax/fmin
≈1.5-1.6 ≈1.6 (50%) ≈1.2 (20%) ≈1.7 (60%)
• XP<-30 dB • XP<-32 dB • XP<-40 dB • XP<-30 dB
• VSWR≈1.2 • VSWR≈1.2 • VSWR≈1.2 • VSWR≈1.2

MSTC. ATAT 32
CHOKE HORNS. Design example

Choke horn at S • RX: 2.17 GHz – 2.20 GHz

band (10% band) • TX: 1.98 GHz – 2.01 GHz
RX
TX

MSTC. ATAT 33
CHOKE HORNS. Design example

Choke horn at S • RX: 2.17 GHz – 2.20 GHz

band (10% band) • TX: 1.98 GHz – 2.01 GHz
RX
TX

MSTC. ATAT 34
CHOKE HORNS. Design example

Choke horn at S • RX: 2.17 GHz – 2.20 GHz

band (10% band) • TX: 1.98 GHz – 2.01 GHz
RX
TX

MSTC. ATAT 35
WIDEBAND HORNS. Dielectric-loaded horns

Air gap depends on aperture D (↑ if D↑) and ϵ

For a fixed D Ǝ a minimum ϵ (minimum mass) to

Design

get minimum XP
For ϵr≈1.14, low flare angle (15º), D<4λ, and
asymmetric throat for XP
Non linear profiles get better XP for lower
lengths
Improvement in radiation

Dielectrics produce hybrid modes. Radiation

pattern gets better symmetry → XP↓ (-40 dB
at 20% band)
pattern

Better SLL

Higher gain with lower D

MSTC. ATAT 36
Phase centre
When using horns as feeds for reflectors it is
important to know where horn phase centre is.
It has to be made coincident with reflector Phase front
focus

Usually fields radiated by a horn are referred to

the aperture centre, that may not be the phase
centre of the structure

For main lobe, constant phase front is

spherical, centred in the horn phase
centre, that is usually inside the horn
(more inside as phase error increases)

Phase centre is calculated for the Sphere R=cte

corresponding angle in which the
reflector edge is seen.

MSTC. ATAT 37
SABOR

http://www.gr.ssr.upm.es/sabor.htm.

MSTC. ATAT 38