Mutual Coupling Mitigation in Array Dense Regime by an Antenna Distribution Optimization in SKA1‐LOW

Abstract

AbstractThe Aperture Array Verification System 2.0 is the latest technological demonstrator designed for the Square Kilometer Array radio telescope operating at low frequency (50–350 MHz). This is an aperture phased array, known as a “station” of the radio telescope, with a pseudo‐random distribution of 256 dual polarized log‐periodic antennas. Mutual coupling effects among the antennas are known to produce detrimental effects especially at the lower end of the operating frequency band. This paper presents a relationship between the antennas electromagnetic performance and their physical position inside the station, followed by an identification of the most critical distances and alignment‐angles between antennas. The calibration accuracy of the station and its directivity within the field of view of the radio telescope are recalculated after repositioning ∼20% of the 256 antennas showing clear improvements in dense regime with respect to the actual AAVS2.0 layout.