Low scattering structures for reflector antennas
In numerous space applications, antenna performance is degraded by the scattering of electromagnetic waves on the antenna structure or on neighboring objects. The present paper describes the design and measurements of two types of low scattering antenna structures for space applications. The first type of structure is a low-scattering feed supporting structure or strut typically used for center-fed antennas. The second type of structure is a low-scattering post designed as a replacement for conventional dielectric posts used to mechanically connect the front and back shells of Dual-Gridded Reflector antennas. Measurements and simulations of center-fed antennas with conventional struts and with the low-scattering struts as well as measurements and simulations of the DGR with conventional posts and low-scattering posts show that the performance of space antennas can be improved, in some cases significantly, by using these novel low-scattering structures.