Gaussian approach for the synthesis of phase-only beam-scanning linear aperiodic antenna arrays

This paper describes a method for the synthesis of linear aperiodic antenna arrays with beam scanning capability. The algorithm is based on a recently proposed Gaussian approach, regarding linear aperiodic arrays of isotropic elements with uniform amplitude distribution, which yields the optimal element positions of the array in such a way as to form a Gaussian beam of prescribed properties. The latter approach is here extended to solve a problem of beam scanning in an angular region of interest. Precisely, the array element positions are determined in such a way as to form a pencil beam, that can be pointed in any direction of the angular region of interest by a suitable distribution of the excitation phases. Thus, a continuous beam scanning can be performed by phase-only control. It is also shown that the alternating projection approach can mitigate the pattern degradation that arises for pointing angles near the end-fire direction.