A Wideband Conformal End-Fire Antenna Array Mounted on a Large Conducting Cylinder

The radiation characteristics of a wideband conformal end-fire antenna array mounted on a large conducting cylinder are investigated in this communication. By employing balanced Vivaldi antenna element, the antenna array has ultra-wide bandwidth, low cross-polarization levels, and wide 3 dB beam-width. It is shown that using a larger antenna height, shorter distance away from the edge of a hollow conducting cylinder, and bigger slant angle of antenna element leads to better end-fire radiation performances. Measured radiation patterns are compared with simulated values and a good agreement is observed. A radome-antenna system is also studied and it is found that the antenna has a larger beam-pointing angle in the H-plane owing to the electromagnetic waves reflected from a dielectric radome surface, while retaining its symmetric pattern in the E-plane. These findings may provide useful insights and guidelines for the design of large radome-antenna systems mounted a cylindrical platform.