Unequally-spaced multiple-beam synthesis for bifunctional radar

The synthesis of a linear array of point-source antennas radiating a multiplicity of beams has been considered when radiator positions are additional design parameters (i.e., besides amplitudes and phases). The interest of the method lies in the reduction of the number of the elements with respect to an equispaced synthesis, that can be achieved without deterioration of the patterns. We propose an application, showing the practicability of the method, to the design of an array for bifunctional (air traffic control+weather) radar