Design of Wide Scanning Sparse Planar Array Using Both Matrix-Pencil and Space-Mapping Methods

Abstract

A hybrid efficient optimizing method of wide scanning sparse planar array involving mutual coupling is investigated in this letter. The former work of matrix enhancement and matrix pencil (MEMP)-based synthesis method is extended to the design of pattern reconfigurable sparse arrays in wide-angle scanning. The genetic algorithm was utilized to further optimize the reconstructed sparse array including the actual antenna element, which differs from the only array factor synthesis of MEMP. To improve the optimization efficiency and design accuracy, the space mapping technique was exploited to accomplish the optimizing design, which also involves the interactions among elements during the optimizing process. A wide-scanning sparse array can be realized by the new relationship of parameter mapping courses between low-cost coarse model optimizations and high-accuracy fine model validations based on the characteristic mode and multilevel fast multipole algorithm. Numerical examples show the efficiency of the proposed method.