The ACTS multibeam antenna

Author

Regier, Frank A.

Author_Institution

NASA Lewis Res. Center, Cleveland, OH, USA

Volume

40

Issue

6

fYear

1992

fDate

6/1/1992 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1159

Lastpage

1164

Abstract

The Advanced Communication Technology Satellite (ACTS), to be launched in 1993, is introduced briefly, and then the Ka-band multibeam antenna, consisting of electrically similar 30 GHz receive and 20 GHz transmit offset Cassegrain systems utilizing orthogonal linear polarizations, is described. Dual polarization is achieved by using one feed assembly for each polarization in conjunction with nested front and back subreflectors, the gridded front subreflector acting as a window for one polarization and a reflector for the other. The antennas produce spot beams with approximately 0.3° beam width and gains of approximately 50 dBi. High surface accuracy and high edge taper produce low sidelobe levels and high cross-polarization isolation. A brief description is given of several Ka-band components fabricated for ACTS. These include multiflare antenna feedhorns, beamforming networks utilizing latching ferrite waveguide switches, a 30 GHz HEMT low-noise amplifier, and a 20 GHz TWT power amplifier

Keywords

antenna feeders; directive antennas; microwave amplifiers; microwave antennas; reflector antennas; satellite antennas; 20 GHz; 30 GHz; ACTS; Advanced Communication Technology Satellite; HEMT low-noise amplifier; Ka-band; LNA; SHF; TWT power amplifier; antenna gain; beam width; beamforming networks; cross-polarization isolation; dual polarisation; gridded front subreflector; high edge taper; latching ferrite waveguide switches; low sidelobe levels; multibeam antenna; multiflare antenna feedhorns; nested subreflectors; offset Cassegrain systems; orthogonal linear polarizations; spot beams; Antenna feeds; Array signal processing; Artificial satellites; Assembly; Communications technology; Ferrites; Low-noise amplifiers; Polarization; Receiving antennas; Satellite antennas;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Microwave Theory and Techniques, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9480

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/22.141347

Filename

141347