Compact dual-band axially corrugated profiled horn for prime-focus reflector antenna

Abstract

This paper reports a new compact dual-band axially corrugated profiled horn feed (DBCPH) for prime-focus reflector antenna at C-band (uplink and downlink frequency bands with bandwidth ratio of 1.6). DBPCH consists of one sinusoid profiled section and two internal axial corrugations (internal short-circuited ring slots), for obtaining a multimode horn feed. Such a blended structure is optimized over the specified frequency bands (3.68-3.70 and 5.865-5.915 GHz) to achieve various performance objectives (such as compactness, return loss, polarization purity, etc.). Measured and predicted results show that DBCPH provides better return loss .18.6 dB, low cross-polarization (better than 232 dB), and adequate edge taper at +488 (8.5-11.7 dB) along with compact size (1.3l aperture diameter and 0.88l length at lower frequency). The horn would be used as a feed element for front-fed prime-focus reflector for pencil beam spacecraft antenna application.

Compact and high-performance feed systems for prime-focus reflector antennas

“…Different types of horns have been developed for miscellaneous applications by several researchers [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. A dual-choke circular feed horn [1,2] is developed for the front-fed reflector.…”

“…Kildal and co-workers. A horn including the non-linear profiled smooth-walled section proceeded by the axial corrugation section [4] is formulated for dual-band operation with good rf performances for a center-fed reflector antenna. A horn including the non-linear profiled smooth-walled section proceeded by the axial corrugation section [4] is formulated for dual-band operation with good rf performances for a center-fed reflector antenna.…”

“…[3] designed a compact and broadband flare-angle controlled axial corrugated horn for prime focus reflectors. A horn including the non-linear profiled smooth-walled section proceeded by the axial corrugation section [4] is formulated for dual-band operation with good rf performances for a center-fed reflector antenna. Multimode horns [5–9] are extensively used to improve different properties of the horn such as cross-polar characteristics, aperture efficiency, side-lobe level, and used as a feed for reflector or standalone.…”