Dielectric rod antennas as optimized feed elements for focal plane arrays

Dielectric rod antennas of rectangular cross section have a number of significant advantages over conventional waveguide or horn antennas when used as feed elements in focal plane arrays. They provide a broadband input matching, a much lower mutual coupling and an appreciable reduction of spillover losses even in densely packed feed arrays. The design, simulation, optimization and experimental investigation of feed arrays with waveguide- and slotline-fed dielectric rod antennas at millimeter-wave frequencies is presented.