Efficiency calculation of feed structures and optimum number of antenna elements in a subarray for highest G/T

For an antenna array, different feed structure topologies may yield the same radiation characteristics. However, different topologies may result in different efficiency and noise performance. In this paper, parallel arm antenna arrays are analyzed for efficiency and noise temperature using the noise equivalent line length method (NELL) with the number of antenna elements in a subarray as a parameter. It is shown that efficiency of an antenna array feed structure as well as its noise temperature can be calculated using the NELL method. The comparison of the two parameters, efficiency and noise temperature, yield the optimum number of antenna elements in a subarray of a parallel arm antenna array for the highest G/T ratio.