Pw. Davis et Me. Bialkowski, Linearly polarized radial-line slot-array antennas with improved return-loss performance, IEEE ANT PR, 41(1), 1999, pp. 52-61
The standard linearly polarized radial-line slot-array (RLSA) antenna exhib
its poor return loss as seen by its coaxial feed. This paper describes tech
niques that improve the poor return-loss performance of this antenna, by us
ing two interchangeable methods: i) reflection-canceling slots on the front
and back surface of the antenna, and ii) beam squinting. A series of 550 m
m diameter linearly polarized Ku-band prototype antennas were constructed t
o experimentally investigate the efficiency of each of these methods. In or
der to cut experimental costs, initial radiation-pattern modeling was perfo
rmed theoretically, and then prototypes were developed using inexpensive al
uminum foil. Measurements of the developed prototypes indicated that both t
he reflection-canceling and beam-squinting methods provided a substantial i
mprovement in return loss over the desired frequency band.