An improved main reflector design for compact range applications

Compact ranges offer many advantages over other types of ranges, and as a result much effort is being directed toward the improvement of their performance. The use of concave edge contours and blended rolled edge terminations to reduce the unwanted energy diffracted into the target zone from the termination of the main reflector is discussed. The proposed shaping of the edge contour minimizes the diffracted fields by virtue of reducing the spread factor; whereas, the blended rolled edge terminations reduce the diffracted fields by creating a smooth transition in the reflected field. Two design examples are treated in order to illustrate these concepts.