Near-Field Error Analysis for Arbitrary Scanning Grids Using Fast Irregular Antenna Field Transformation Algorithm

An extensive error analysis for arbitrary near-fleld antenna measurements is performed. Expressions are derived to estimate the far-fleld uncertainty using the available near-fleld data together with the measurement inaccuracy but, most importantly, without the knowledge of the reference far fleld. Error analysis techniques presented so far either assume a speciflc set of antennas or a speciflc measurement surface and are di-cult to generalize. We present a generalized approach providing realistic error estimates using the recently developed Fast Irregular Antenna Field Transformation Algorithm (FIAFTA). FIAFTA utilizes equivalent plane wave sources to represent radiated antenna flelds and is able to process near- fleld data collected on arbitrary measurement grids. The unknown plane wave coe-cients are determined by solving a linear system of equations. The error model is applied to planar, cylindrical, and spherical near-fleld measurements and is also valid for arbitrary measurement grids. The estimated far-fleld uncertainties show good agreement with the reference far-fleld errors.