2.5.

3 PARABOLIC REFLECTOR

If a beam of parallel rays is incident upon a reflector whose geometrical shape is

a parabola, the radiation will converge or get focused at a spot which is known as
the focal point. In the same manner if a point source is placed at the focal point,
the rays reflected by a parabolic reflector will emerge as a parallel beam. The
symmetrical point on the parabolic surface is known as the vertex. Rays that
emerge in a parallel formation are usually said to be collimated. In practice,
collimation is often used to describe the highly directional characteristics of an
antenna even though the emanating rays are not exactly parallel. Since the
transmitter (receiver) is placed at the focal point of the parabola, the
configuration is usually known as front fed.

A parabolic reflector can take two different forms. One configuration is that of the
parabolic right cylinder, whose energy is collimated at a line that is parallel to the
axis of the cylinder through the focal point of the reflector. The most widely used
feed for this type of a reflector is a linear dipole, a linear array, or a slotted
waveguide. The other reflector configuration is that which is formed by rotating
the parabola around ts axis, and it Is referred to as a paraboloid
(parabola of revolution). A pyramidal or a conical horn has been widely utilized as
a feed for this arrangement.

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ro

Figure 2.34. Parabolic Reflector

For Parabola

OP+PQ =Constant = 2f
OP = r and PQ = r cos 0

so, r (1+ cos ' ) =

2f

r 2f/ (1 + cos 6)

= f sec? ( 8 se.

r'+r'cos0' V(r)2+(y)2+ (z)? +z

=
=
2f

r+(y*=4/f -') with (r'*+( (d/2)

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6. = t a n - )

6. = tan (

1/2
. tanGjay-1/16'

f (d/4)cot(0./2)
f/d ratio and their corresponding 0. values.

a /d 0.40.5 0.60.7 0.8 1.0

64.0 53.1 45.2 39.3 34.7 28.1
Gain and Aperture Efficiency of parabolic Reflector antenna

4TT
G= Egp Du =
EaP AD

Spillover Efficiency:
Fraction of the total power that is radiated by the feed, intercepted and
collimated by the reflecting surface.

Tapper Efficiency:
Uniformity of the amplitude distribution of the feed pattern over the surface of
the reflector

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XP X

Phase Efficiency:
Phase uniformity of the field the
over aperture plane
Polarization Efficiency:
Polarization uniformity of the field over the aperture plane
Blockage Efficiency
Random over Efficiency

EFFECT OF FEED PATTERN ON EFFICIENCY:

is low
E is high
, is high
, is low
High spillover
Low spillover

(a) Broad feed pattern giving (b) Narrow feed pattern giving
high aperture taper efficlency high spillover efficiency but low
but low spillover efficiency. aperture taper efficiency.

(FRONT FEED
WAVEGUIDE HORN CUTLER (DUAL DIPOLE DISK
VERTEX (REAR) FEEDS

A Figure 2.34a. Typess

of parabolic feeder

OFFSET FEED CASSEGRAIN FEED GREGORIAN FEED

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2.5.4 ADVANTAGES
Reduction of minor lobes
Wastage of power is reduced
Equivalent focal length is achieved
Feed can be placed in any location, according to our convenience
Adjustment of beam (narrowing or widening) is done by adjusting the reflecting
surfaces

2.5.5 DISADVANTAGES
Some of the power that gets reflected from the parabolic reflector is obstructed.
This becomes a problem with small dimension paraboloid.
2.5.6 APPLICATIONs

The cassegrain feed parabolic reflector is mainly used in satellite communications.

Also used in wireless telecommunication systems.