A performance enhanced P- and L-band double-ridged horn antenna

Abstract

With the continuous development of electromagnetic detection systems, the working frequency of radar gradually expands towards the low-frequency band such as P- and L-band, and the low-frequency horn antenna has also attracted more and more attention. Given the problems of miniaturization, lightweight and ultra-wideband design of low-frequency horn antenna, this paper presents the optimal design for the feed balun, ridge curve, back-feed cavity and sidewall of the traditional horn antenna, and proposes a performance-enhanced double-ridged horn antenna covering 0.21-2.3 GHz. In the entire working band, the antenna has stable radiation patterns and good port-matching characteristics; its VSWR is less than 2 and the main lobes of patterns do not split or deteriorate. The proposed horn antenna can be used as a standard calibration or measurement antenna in antenna or material measurement systems.

KEYWORDS:

• P-band
• horn antenna
• ultra-wideband
• high gain

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grand number: 62201130 and 62201370].

Notes on contributors

Yulin Liu

Yulin Liu was born in Chongqing, China, in 1998. She received the B.S. degree in electronic science and technology from Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing, China, in 2016. She is currently pursuing the M.S. degree in microwave theory and technology at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC). Her research interests include material electromagnetic parameters measurement and microwave non-destructive testing.

Yunpeng Zhang

Yunpeng Zhang was born in Yunnan, China, in 1990. He received the B.S. degree in electromagnetic field and wireless technology and the Ph.D. degree in electromagnetic field and microwave technology from University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), Chengdu, China, in 2013 and 2019, respectively. From 2020 to 2022, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at UESTC. He is currently an Associate Research Fellow with the School of Electronic Science and Engineering, UESTC. His research interests include material electromagnetic parameters measurement and microwave non-destructive testing.

Zheyuan Fan

Zheyuan Fan was born in Sichuan, China, in 2001. He received the B.S. degree from Nanchang Hangkong University and is currently pursuing a master's degree at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, specializing in Electromagnetic Field and Microwave Testing.

Hui Zhu

Hui Zhu was born in Sichuan, China, in 1987. He received the B.S. degree in electronic information science and technology and the M.S. degree in electronic and communication engineering from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China, in 2010 and 2013, respectively. He is currently a doctoral student at UESTC. His research interests is material microwave parameter testing.

Zhuoyue Zhang

Zhuoyue Zhang was born in Shandong, China, in 1987. He received the B.S. degree in electronic science and technology from Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China, in 2009, the M.S. degree in microwave theory and technology from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), Chengdu, China, in 2013, and the Ph.D. degree in information and communication engineering from Sichuan University, Chengdu, China, in 2020. He was a faculty of the UESTC from 2013 to 2017. He has been an assistant professor with the College of Electronics and Information Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China, since 2021. His current research interests include wireless power transmission, antenna arrays, and spintronics.

En Li

En Li received the M.S. degree in physical electronics and the Ph.D. degree in electromagnetic field and microwave technology from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), Chengdu, China, in 2003 and 2009, respectively. He is currently a Professor with UESTC. He has authored or co-authored over 100 journals and conference papers and 26 authorized national invention patents. His current research interests include microwave plasma diagnosis, electromagnetic parameter measurement of dielectric material at high temperatures, nonlinear parameter measurement of high-power amplifier, and design of microwave devices.