AbstractsEngineering

A study of antenna design concepts for future large radio telescopes

by Philo Vinita Daniel-Tran




Institution: University of Western Sydney
Department: School of Engineering and Industrial Design
Degree: PhD
Year: 0
Keywords: radio telescopes; antenna arrays; multibeaming
Record ID: 1054126
Full text PDF: http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/631


Abstract

This is an investigation of the proposed ‘Square Kilometer Array’ (SKA) for the next generation radio telescope. A parallel plate system with a circular reflector has been investigated for SKA to achieve wideband performance and beam scanning ability, in particular the theoretical analysis of the fields in the parallel plate structure using a combination of Finite Difference Time Domain method and Physical Optics. This study builds on earlier work, explores the possible limits of extension and develops an analysis of the device, which will allow all possible configurations to be simulated. It is anticipated that the final scanning arrangement will consist of at least a double reflector system, possibly with some re-configurability, where the parallel plates will have two 180 degree bends with the output being some form of directly radiating aperture. Results were obtained for a Re-configurable Monopole, where diodes are used as switches to physically vary the length of the antenna element and hence increase the bandwidth of the antenna. Re-configurable reflectors were also investigated and Geometrical Optics was used for shaping a dual-reflector Cassegrain system for beam scanning. All of these methods have produced satisfactory practical and analytical results Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Electrical Engineering