An efficient hybrid method for analysis of radome-enclosed slot antenna arrays

A hybrid method that combines the integral equation (IE) method and physical optics (PO) is presented for efficient analysis of slot antenna arrays enclosed in an electrically large radome. The integral equation is over the aperture of the slot antenna via continuity of the tangential magnetic fields. Equivalent PO currents are assumed on the radome walls, induced by the fields radiated from the antenna. The reflected fields due to the PO currents on the radome are coupled back to the integral equation to take into account the interactions between the radome and the antenna. This method leads to considerable reduction in memory and computational time, since PO is applied to the electrically large radome, with unknown currents defined only on the aperture of the slot antenna.