DIELECTRIC-SPHERE-MOUNTED CORRUGATED CONICAL HORN

Results of the experimental and theoretical study of the effect of placing a dielectric sphere in front of, but displaced from, the aperture of a corrugated conical horn are presented. The analytical treatment of the radiation characteristics of the device is based on the scattering theory approach. Calculations based on this formulation show good overall agreement with experimental pattern and directivity measurements. It is established that a dielectric-sphere-mounted corrugated conical horn will have gain and directivity in excess of conventional corrugated conical horns of the same dimensions. This is a broad-band system with low side-lobe patterns, and hence can be used as a variable beamwidth feed with higher gain, greater directivity, and low side-lobe levels for paraboloidal reflector antennas for satellite communications and many other space applications. © 1990 Taylor and Francis Ltd.