Test-Driven Design of an Active Dual-Polarized Log-Periodic Antenna for the Square Kilometre Array
oleh: Pietro Bolli, Lorenzo Mezzadrelli, Jader Monari, Federico Perini, Alberto Tibaldi, Giuseppe Virone, Mirko Bercigli, Lorenzo Ciorba, Paola Di Ninni, Maria Grazia Labate, Vittorio Giuseppe Loi, Andrea Mattana, Fabio Paonessa, Simone Rusticelli, Marco Schiaffino
| Format: | Article |
|---|---|
| Diterbitkan: | IEEE 2020-01-01 |
Deskripsi
An active dual-polarized Log-Periodic antenna has been designed to meet the requirements of the low-frequency (50 - 350 MHz) radio telescope of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). The integration of antenna and low noise amplifier has been conceived in order to achieve a high degree of testability. This aspect has been found to be crucial to obtain a smooth frequency response compatible with the SKA science cases. The design has also been driven by other factors such as the large-volume production (more than 130 000 antennas will be built) and the environmental conditions of the harsh Australian desert. A specific verification approach based on both wideband radiometric spectral and spatial measurements in relevant laboratory and in-situ conditions has been developed. Electromagnetic analyses and experimental results exhibit a very good agreement. In December 2019, this antenna was part of the reference solution for the System Critical Design Review of the SKA.