A 2-D Fully Polarized Van Atta Array Based on Wide-Beam Tri-Polarized Antennas

Area of Science:

• Electromagnetics and Antenna Theory
• Microwave Engineering
• Radar Systems

Background:

• Traditional antenna arrays often have limitations in handling arbitrarily polarized waves.
• Existing Van Atta arrays may not offer sufficient angular coverage for diverse polarization scenarios.
• The need for antennas with wide-angle polarization agility is critical in modern radar and communication systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and analyze a 2-D fully polarized Van Atta array.
• To enhance the polarization receiving and transmitting capabilities of Van Atta arrays.
• To achieve wider angular coverage for arbitrarily polarized incident waves.

Main Methods:

• Design of a novel tri-polarized antenna element combining a monopole and a microstrip antenna.
• Integration of four tri-polarized elements into a 2-D Van Atta array configuration.
• Utilizing folded electric walls within the microstrip antenna to widen the beam.

Main Results:

• The proposed 2-D fully polarized Van Atta array demonstrates a -5 dB radar cross-section (RCS) beamwidth exceeding 95° for TE-polarized waves.
• The array achieves a -5 dB RCS beamwidth greater than 134° for TM-polarized waves.
• Performance significantly surpasses that of conventional 2-D dual-polarized arrays in terms of angular coverage.

Conclusions:

• The developed 2-D fully polarized Van Atta array effectively handles arbitrarily polarized incident waves.
• The proposed antenna element design and array configuration provide superior wide-angle performance.
• This technology offers a significant advancement for applications requiring broad polarization diversity and coverage.