Power leakage minimization in time‐modulated linear antenna array with optimized switching strategies employing modified harmony search algorithm

Abstract

Time-modulated linear antenna array (TMLAA) with periodic time modulation of antenna elements radiates infinite inevitable harmonic beams. The infinite harmonic sideband radiation is a wastage of power unless the power is exploited. This paper aims to minimize inevitable power wastage in the harmonic beams radiated from TMLAA by employing an optimized periodic timing sequence. The optimization of the timing sequence is conducted employing harmony search (HS) to suppress the power wastage, However, conventional HS achieves an acceptable sidelobe level (SLL) below – 30 dB. Nevertheless, a modified harmony search algorithm (MHSA) is proposed to attain more power in the desired fundamental beam. The algorithm is validated using an array of 4-, 10-, and 16-element uniform half-wavelength spacing TMLAA. The optimization is conducted on the ON and OFF time instants and the real current of the elements. The simulation results exhibit that HS and MHSA perform potentially alike to suppress the SLL of fundamental below –30 dB. However, the further suppression of the sideband levels employing MHSA justifies the modification proposed in this work. The MHSA performance in terms of radiation parameters is compared with the HS and also with previous works to show the potentiality of the modification.