A Novel Antenna for Transient Applications in the Frequency Band 300 MHz – 3 GHz: The Valentine Antenna

Abstract

We propose a novel ultrawideband (UWB) antenna designed specially for transient UWB radar applications. This work is a part of a new project concerning an optoelectronic UWB radar demonstrator with an array of four antennas. This project required the development of a new UWB antenna: the Valentine antenna. This antenna must be lighter and more compact in H-plane to allow the assembly of the array. This array must have a volume lower than 1 m . This antenna, which is composed of curved metallic strips, radiates ultrashort pulses in the frequency band 300 MHz -3 GHz with very low dispersion, a high gain and a low cross-polarization in the axial direction. The Valentine antenna must support 10 kV of peak voltage. This paper describes the Valentine antenna and its main radiation characteristics.

Ultra Wideband Antennas for High Pulsed Power Applications

“…The aim of this project, pursued by the XLIM laboratory of Limoges University, was to design and produce a multi-source pulsed UWB radar system demonstrator based on the use of optoelectronic switches to extend the limits of pulsed UWB radars in terms of range, resolution and acquisition. The antennas developed in the project are based on the Vivaldi type profile, the Valentine antenna (Diot et al, 2007) being used for the construction of the transmission array and the Libellule antenna (Delmote et al, 2004) being used for the reception of the UWB radar signals formed. These two antennas (figure 4) are made according to the same principle but their geometry is different.…”

An Ultra Wideband Impulse Optoelectronic Radar: Rugbi

“…The Valentine antenna [11] is a traveling wave antenna. It is able to radiate high power pulses with a minimum of distortion: the radiated or the received pulse should not be distorted or spread.…”

“…Optical delay lines are adjusted to synchronise the different excitation pulses. The radiated field is measured at 8 m along the array axis by a Dragonfly UWB antenna (250 MHz-3 GHz) connected to the real time digital oscilloscope [11]. (Fig.…”

Development of a Fast Marx Generator for High Power Ultra Wideband Pulse Radiation

“…Because of its high gain and its capability to radiate short pulses without dispersion in the frequency band 300 MHz-2.5 GHz, the Valentine antenna [4,5] was chosen to be the radiating element of high-power UWB sources. A mechanical matching of the antenna, using the time-domain electromagnetic software CST Microwave Studio, was done to improve its dielectric strength.…”