Design, Fabrication, and Experimental Characterization of an Ultra-Wideband, Electronically-Reconfigurable Transmitarray Element with High Peak and Average Power Handling Capability

• Published in: 2024 United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting (USNC-URSI NRSM) p. 284
• Main Authors: Wu, Jinkai, Topozlu, Halil, Zhang, Zongtang, Hajitabarmarznaki, Shiva, Booske, John H., Behdad, Nader
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: USNC-URSI 09.01.2024
• Subjects: Electronic warfare; Microwave amplifiers; Microwave communication; Nonlinear distortion; Phased arrays; Radar applications; Radio frequency
• DOI: 10.23919/USNC-URSINRSM60317.2024.10464652

High-power phased arrays have been widely used in radar, communications, and electronic warfare applications. Modern military applications such as electronic warfare and high-power radar systems often need high-power-capable phased arrays that can work over very wide bandwidths. Thus, the development of ultra-wide band, electronically reconfigurable phased arrays capable of handling a wide spectrum of high-power microwave sources is important. While many conventional phased array designs provide broad bandwidth or high radiation power levels, it is challenging to achieve both traits simultaneously. Active phased arrays can be very wideband but offer limited power handling capability (typically a few watts per element). Their nonlinear amplifiers can introduce significant RF distortion as the radiated power level increases and are subject to breakdown or thermal failure at elevated power levels. For this reason, most high-power phased arrays are passive phased arrays. All-metal passive phased arrays are especially high-power compatible, but they tend to suffer from narrow bandwidths of typically less than 20%-30%. In addition, their all-metal waveguide-based structures usually require relatively large profiles. For a full 2D array, the low-packing-density and large unit cell spacing causes grating lobe problems for such designs. The large size and weight of these all-metal-based phased arrays will limit their applications to large-size platforms.