Waveguide-Slot Array Antenna Designs for Low-Average-Sidelobe Specifications

This paper discusses the design, analysis, and development of waveguide-fed planar slot arrays to achieve low-average-sidelobe specifications, as may arise in radiometer applications. Such antennas may be required to meet strict average sidelobe levels in different angular regions, and low average return loss over a specified bandwidth. In addition to Elliott's design technique, we used a Moment-Method analysis program, Ansoft's HFSS code, and results of tolerance studies using Monte Carlo simulations to meet the design objectives. Comparisons of simulated results and experimental results are also presented.