DESIGN OF LINEARLY POLARIZED SLOTTED WAVEGUIDE FEEDS FOR SPHERICAL REFLECTORS

A procedure for the design of linearly polarized slotted waveguide line feeds for spherical reflector antennas is described. The necessary equations for determining the complex propagation constant α + jß in a line source are given in terms of reflector parameters. Guide and slot dimensions that will yield the desired α and β are then found by making use of experimental data, presented herein. These data consist of measured values of α and β as functions of slot length for a number of slotted waveguide test sections of various widths. The technique is applicable over a wide range of frequencies and reflector sizes. An example is given in which a feed is designed at 1420 MHz to illuminate 700 ft of aperture in the Arecibo spherical reflector. Copyright © 1979 by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Inc.