Quad band X/Ka horn antenna and feed chain designs

Abstract

This paper proposes the performance comparison of two different corrugated feed horn designs and their corresponding feed chains working simultaneously in the X and Ka frequency bands. One of the solutions is composed of an X band coaxial corrugated horn that combines axial and radial corrugations fed laterally by an OMTJ formed by four branches to allow dual polarization and a smooth-walled spline-profile Ka band horn antenna placed inside the inner coaxial of the corrugated X band horn. The second solution is formed of a radial corrugated horn antenna for Ka band connected directly to another horn antenna that combines axial and radial corrugations for X band. The X band horn antenna part is also fed by an OMTJ formed by four branches. Both results which have been optimized for a science mission communication satellite specification requirement are very compact, allowing dual pol operation, combining both frequency bands in the same profile and making the system ideal for space applications. Each approach will present some advantages and disadvantages that can decide the one to be used in a mission of this type. The main contribution of this research has been the final optimization of the whole component achieving nicer results than the ones proposed in the scientific literature for this kind of solution.