THE EL CAMPO SOLAR RADAR ANTENNA
Abstract
An antenna is described for use in a radar system designed to study reflections of VHF electromagnetic waves from the sun. This antenna consists of two rectangular planar arrays which occupy the same land surface and have dipole elements that are mutually perpendicular. The elements are excited by a combination of parallel and series feed networks. Each array produces a 0.75 degree by 12 degree fan-shaped beam whose direction is set by the adjustment of the phase of the element currents. So far, the beam has been confined to directions located in the north-south plane which range from near broadside to 52.5 degrees south from broadside. Good performance for these beam directions was obtained with only two settings of the element-matching network. The directivity patterns of one of these arrays were measured by flying a properly instrumented airplane in its Fresnel region and good agreement with theoretical predictions was obtained.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 17, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0292173
Entities
People
- A. R. Dion
- M. E. Devane
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology