column featured a paper dealing with the analysis of infinite arrays of dipoles (reference [4] in the paper in this column). Results for scan impedances obtained using a commercial EM simulation code (HFSS) were compared to a theoretical model, and good results were obtained for many, but not all, cases. In the February 2008 issue, a Letter to the Editor [5] suggested that the reason for these discrepancies lay in limitations of the theoretical model then used. In this month's contribution, the authors of the original paper have implemented a new theoretical approach to the problem, and they have obtained excellent agree-ment with two commercial CEM codes, HFSS and Microwave Studio. The theoretical approach itself is of considerable interest. It uses the Pocklington integral equation but solves it without the usual MoM discretization, and this is described in some detail in the paper.The authors' commitment to carefully investigating a previously unresolved issue is exemplary, and we thank them for this most instructive follow-up paper. Abstract A theoretical model of VanKoughnett and Yen for an infinite planar dipole array has been revised and extended to the case of a finite feeding gap with finite dipole spacing. The model was then compared with results from the Ansoft HFSS v. 11 and CST Microwave Studio 2008 numerical antenna array simulators. The agreement among three approaches for the infinite dipole array was generally very good in all scan planes, with the exception of minor differences that can be accounted for. This confirmed both the new analytical model and the numerical simulation data.
The next generation of active electronically scanned arrays (AESAs) is dependent upon many technology and application pulls and the pushes. RF and manufacturing technologies are key elements of achieving more affordable phased arrays in support of both military and commercial applications. Advanced, evolving, mature and even revolutionary device, material and packaging technologies are making significant strides for lowering the cost of phased arrays. To date, phased array usage has been limited to high end military and commercial applications. That's about to change with the evolution of more affordable AESA architectures that take advantage of RF microelectronics, surface mount RF packaging and new architectures focused on reducing the high cost drivers. New Panel AESA approaches promise a savings of more than 50% since the initial nearly 20 years ago. Index Terms -RF, phased arrays, AESA, AESLA TM, GaN, SiGe, packaging, wide frequency bandwidths, MMICs. I. THE NEXT GENERATION OF ACTIVE ELECTRONICALLY SCANNED ARRAYS (AESAs) The pull and the push of RF and manufacturing technologies are key elements of achieving more affordable phased arrays in support of both military and commercial applications. RF technology is one of the work horses, but not the only cost driver of a phased array. Active Electronically Scanned Phased Arrays (AESAs) dominate the phased array market and RF technology provides unprecedented capabilities and opportunities. Technology pull comes primarily from the government agencies since they are currently the largest consumers and sponsors of phased arrays. So, what are some of the pulls? We need systems that can observe the world around us, look closer and farther away, find smaller and hidden objects, some that move fast, and others that move slow. What are some of the RF technology pushes that are applicable to these pulls? We're seeing unprecedented high power RF devices, more affordable faster and highly integrated RF electronics, components that support higher frequencies and wider frequency bandwidths, and manmade materials with RF properties not realized previously, just to name a few. There are many challenges driving the development of the next generation of radar, communications and electronic warfare AESAs. The ground and surface based applications must meet a broad range of requirements, from simple low power radars for weather, surveillance, and communications to high power radars for ship and missile defense. The airborne applications are additionally challenged by the 978-1-4244-7732-6/101$26.00 ©2010 IEEE 688 weight, volume and sometimes the radar cross section (e.g. low RCS for stealth) constraints of the platform. A common challenge across all of the applications however is AESA affordability, thus they've traditionally been limited to systems and platforms where the benefits could justify their higher price tag. The maturation of RF Panel AESA technology is now beginning to change the cost-benefit paradigm and we discuss this shortly. The phased array is the work horse sen...
could be duplicated by limiting the PMM current distribution to a single sinusoidal mode. This was equivalent to the current distribution shown in Figure 2 of the paper. Figures 6 and 7 show the comparison between PMM with a single-mode current distribution and the analytical technique for the 0.480A element length in the 0.5A and 0.7A array lattices. Excellent agreement was obtained for these cases, as well as for the element length of 0.495A. The exact element length was used in the impi .m MATLAB routine, rather than the nominal 0.5A length used by the authors in the comparisons with HFSS.
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