Ultrawideband Dual Circularly Polarized Waveguide Array Antenna for K- and Ka-Bands Satellite Communications

Abstract

In the letter, a wideband dual circularly polarized (CP) waveguide antenna array is designed for K and Ka dual-band satellite communications. A multi-stage square waveguide structure is exploited into the radiating part to facilitate the excitation of a dual polarization response. A ridge waveguide polarizer is integrated to form the left-hand circular polarization (LHCP) and the right-hand circular polarization (RHCP). For a better arrangement of the feeding network, a transition structure with E-plane waveguides to double-ridge waveguides reduces the cross-sectional area of the feeding network. An 8 x 8 array antenna prototype was designed, fabricated and measured for demonstration purposes. The axial ratio (AR) and impedance bandwidth of the array antenna are more than 45%, according to simulation and measurement results. Input reflection coefficient and isolation lower than -15 dB for the dual CP from 19 to 30 GHz, the total antenna efficiency for the entire operating band exceeded 72%. For both polarizations, the peak gain ranges between 24.6 and 28.8 dBi from 19 to 30 GHz.