An interlaced phased array antenna for atmospheric radars

Abstract

The paper describes the design, construction details and test results of a 4×15 phased array Yagi antenna capable of producing three switchable beam orientations in a single plane. The antenna operates at a fixed frequency of 54.95 MHz and is useful for atmospheric studies. The array makes use of the 'interlaced phased array (IPA)’ concept to reduce the number

of feed points and phase shifters, resulting in considerable reduction in cost and complexity of the array antenna. The 4×15 array was constructed using four-element Yagi-Uda antennas and was fed using a combination of co-axial and open-wire transmission lines. The performance of the antenna was qualitatively checked using the electrojet as a target. Moreover, the beam orientations and beamwidths of the antenna were verified using the sun as a radio source when it transitted over the beams. The performance parameters of the antenna were found to be very close to those computed theoretically.