Analysis of rim loaded, axially-symmetric reflector antennas using integral equation techniques

The application of integral equations to the analysis of thinly coated perfect electric conductors, in particular coated reflector antennas, is examined with emphasis upon the controllability of the far-field radiation patterns. A set of coupled-field integral equations, derived from enforcing boundary conditions and equivalence principle, represents the fields exterior and interior to the coating region and accounts for all of the scattering mechanisms associated with the problem. Results using integral equation techniques are presented which demonstrate the effectiveness that rim loading has in the control of the far-field patterns.<>