Phaseless antenna diagnostics by propagation diversity via a slab

This paper deals with the first results of a novel technique to determine the far field of a radiating system from near-field intensity data. In particular, the approach requires an unique scanning plane where to measure the intensity of the near field. The diversity between the two intensity data sets is achieved by exploiting a dielectric slab with known properties that fills partially the domain between the aperture and the measurement plane. Then a phase retrieval algorithm is exploited by assuming as unknown the antenna plane wave spectrum (PWS). The feasibility of the novel approach is compared to the usual near field phase retrieval technique exploiting measurements over two scanning planes.