Calculation of LWA Antenna Beams and Close Packing Effects

Abstract

Improving our knowledge of the LAW antenna beam pattern and the effect of nearby antennas is an important step to improving the calibration and image fidelity of the OVLWA (Owens Valley Long Wavelength Array). Previous LWA studies carried out a MoM (method of moments) calculation of the beam pattern and produced analytic approximations to the E- and H-plane beam patterns which are currently used for the image processing [LWA memos 175 and 178]. A MoM model has been developed using the GRASP and HFSS analysis programs to calculate other beam properties, such as the beam pattern in nonprinciple directions and Stokes parameters, and to explore the effect of nearby antennas and ground plate configurations.

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