Component error contributions to frequency dispersion in phased-array antennas

It has been shown in the past that wideband phased-array radars are subject to performance degradation due to the dispersive nature of the antenna. It has also been shown that these effects are highly dependent on both the class of signals being used and the choice of filter in the receiver. The authors extend this work by including the effects of individual antenna components on the frequency response of the antenna in such a system. The sensitivity of the system to different types of component errors is also addressed. It is hoped than an understanding of such relationships will allow the antenna designer and the system engineer to accurately specify the performance requirements for phased-array antennas in a wideband environment