PATTERN MEASUREMENTS OF REFLECTOR ANTENNAS IN THE COMPACT RANGE AND VALIDATION WITH COMPUTER CODE SIMULATION

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate: 1) the excellent dynamic range that can be achieved with antenna pattern measurements in a compact range facility; and 2) the excellent validation achieved for the calculated patterns of two 8-ft diameter reflector antennas. These measurements were performed in the compact range facility at The Ohio State University (OSU) ElectroScience Laboratory. The compact range has a rolled edge modification to its reflector and uses a pulsed radar system to eliminate the clutter interference such that a dynamic range of more than 80 dB can be obtained. The measured far field patterns of two 8-ft reflector antennas, a prime focus fed and a Cassegrainian, at 11 GHz are compared with those calculated by OSU Reflector Antenna Code. The approach of computer code simulation is also described. © 1990 IEEE