High Frequency (> 2 GHz) Inter-Aperture Direct Coupling and Radiation

This Phase I proposal for research and exploratory development would address the problem of High Frequency (>2 GHz) Inter-aperture Direct Coupling and Radiation in a shipboard environment. Our objective would be to predict the deleterious effects resultingfrom these couplings-and from extraneous scattering from obstacles such as masts and other structures-on the performance (gain, sidelobe, etc.) of the antennas. Modeling these problems is important for determining their placements in the topsideenvironment, where the EMI and EMC issues are vitally important, as is estimating the biological hazard posed by high power microwave radiation from the radar antennas. We propose to develop a novel approach, based on the newly introduced CharacteristicBasis Function Method (CBFM) employed in conjunction with either the CFDTD or an MoM code, that would enable us to handle arbitrarily large phased arrays, even comprising of thousands of elements. Next, we will show how the same approach can be used toaddress the problem of coupling between two large apertures, not only when the distance between the antennas (or between an antenna and a scatterer) is small, but also when this separation distance falls in the large or intermediate regimes, in a seamlessmanner. Anticipated developments of the novel CEM tools would be of immediate use to several other projects of interest to various DoD agencies, especially the Navy, in connection with EMI analysis of proposed or existing designs, for which no accurate tools arecurrently available. Commercial organizations, such as government contractors, would also benefit from such tools that would certainly find a plethora of applications in EMI, EMC, RADHAZ, Non-lethal weapon and Security-type problems.RMA has been developing and marketing special-purpose CEM codes for more than 25 years, with a customer base comprising of DoD agencies and their contractors, and commercial code developers in the areas of antennas, MMIC, RFIC and Wireless circuits.Extensive plans are also being made to market more advanced versions of the CFDTD code to several DoD contractors engaged in the design of airborne and shipboard antennas, as well as to a number of organizations engaged in EMI and EMC problems