Linear Array Thinning Using Probability Density Tapering Approach

Abstract

In this letter, a novel synthesis algorithm is presented by using a probability density tapering approach in determining element distributions in a thinned array. The probability density tapering is carried out with the iterative Fourier technique (IFT) in array thinning, since the IFT method is proved effective in large array thinning, but the traditional IFT often easily gets trapped in local optima. In the proposed method, namely the probability tapering IFT (PTIFT), the element locations are determined by probability estimation. Then, a probability density taper is used to model the element distributions across the aperture. With iterations, the probability model taper is optimized to approach the global optimal solution. The efficiency of the PTIFT method was validated by some representative examples of array thinning with minimum peak sidelobe level. In addition, null placement in the uniformly illuminated thinned array with low sidelobes was investigated by utilizing the PTIFT.