A new low-side-lobe pattern synthesis technique for conformal arrays

The application of the new nonlinear optimization algorithms to array design is demonstrated by the low-side-lobe pattern synthesis of conformal arrays. By adopting the information of array element realized gain patterns the authors formulate synthesis problems as nonlinearly constrained optimization problems, and propose a direct method to solve them. The technique allows them to find a set of array coefficients that yield a pattern meeting a specified side-lobe level and achieving the maximum directivity, if such a set of array coefficients exists. If the side-lobe specifications cannot be met with the given array, the technique will result in a set of coefficients that yield a pattern meeting the best attainable side-lobe level and having directivity as high as possible. Simplified synthesis problems for an axial dipole array in an infinite, perfectly conducting cylinder are discussed, and numerical results are given. The synthesis technique works for general array patterns