Effect of Two-Body Motion on Radar Beam Quality for Various Distributed Sparse Array Configurations

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis was to develop a computer program to model the motion and rather beam characteristics of different configurations for the distributed sparse array. The effect of the two-body motion on the beam quality of the array was analyzed. Two groups of arrays, planar and three-dimensional were considered. The planar phased arrays were rectangles and disks, and the other arrays included cones and spheres. The number of emitters in the configurations ranged from five to two hundred. The beam quality parameter was the half-power beamwidth as determined in discrete directions throughout the hemisphere below the array. An array was considered feasible if the beamwidths degraded only slightly during and orbit. The most useful configuration was found to be a sphere of randomly spaced emitters because it provided narrow beamwidths in all directions below the array. Because of the motion of the array, the beamwidths changed in a predictable, periodic manner. The half-power beamwidths actually improved in certain directions and only slightly degraded in others. The sphere also required the least number of emitters and could be used at any altitude. Keywords: Computer program listings; Fortran; Theses.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1988
Accession Number
ADA202937

Entities

People

  • Michael G. Spencer

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Sensors
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Altitude
  • Arrays
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Bodies
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Electric Fields
  • Engineering
  • Geometry
  • Linear Arrays
  • Phased Array Radar
  • Phased Arrays
  • Radar Beams
  • Radiation
  • Three Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Phased Array Antenna Design.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris