Antenna Back-Lobe and Side-Lobe Suppression using Tapered Periodic Surfaces

"Mission Research Corporation (MRC) will apply the Tapered Periodic Surface (TPS) technology to a specified antenna system. The Phase I program demonstrates the TPS's ability to dramatically reduce the side- and back-lobes of an L-band horn antenna. Abroadband (300 MHz - 3.0 GHz) version of the L-band TPS horn was also designed during the Phase I program, and will be the building block for the Phase II antenna system. The particular antenna system was selected jointly by MRC and the Government sponsorduring the Phase I program. This system consists of a pair of 2x2 arrays comprised of the broadband TPS horns; one of the arrays functioning in the transmit mode, the other in the receive mode.The first portion of the Phase II effort will consist of refining and optimizing the Phase I broadband horn design. Analytic tools will be developed, and existing compuer models used in this effort. Designs will be fabricated and tested. The finaldesign will be fabricated and incorporated into the eight element array. This final qualified array will be a deliverable."