Analysis and Design Principles of Microwave Antennas

Assignment-6 with Solution

1. Determine the angle of the aperture of a paraboloidal reflector antenna if the antenna
has Df = 0.4.

a. 320
b. 42.60
c. 127.80
d. 1790

Solution:
Referring to the figure given below, the ratio of focus to the diameter of the paraboloidal
reflector is specified as 0.4. The angle of the paraboloidal reflector is assumed to be
Ψ. Therefore, the angle of the paraboloidal reflector can be determined from the
formula
f 1 Ψ
= cot( )
D 4 4
1
Hence, Ψ = 4 · tan−1 ( 4·0.4 = 2.23c ). which is equivalently 127.76 degrees. Hence, the
most appropriate choice is c.

2. The radiation intensity of the feed horn located at the primary focus of the paraboloid
reflector antenna is given by g(θ, φ) = sin2 θ. The angle of the paraboloidal reflector
is 1000. Calculate the total power available in the surface of the aperture.

a. 0.5 Watts
b. 0.7 Watts
c. 0.9 Watts
d. 2.1 Watts

The radiation intensity of the feed horn is specified as g(θ, φ) = sin2 θ Watts/Steradian.
Therefore, the differential power incident on the reflector through the differential
solid angle dΩ = sin θdθdφ is dPi (θ, φ).
Hence, the total power incident on the surface area of the paraboloidal reflector can
be obtained by performing an integration over the region defined by 0 ≤ θ ≤ Ψ2 ; 0 ≤
φ ≤ 2π. Where, Ψ = 1000 . So,
Ψ
ˆ2 ˆ2π
Pi (θ, φ) = g(θ, φ) sin θdθdφ
θ=0 φ=0
Ψ
ˆ2 ˆ2π
= sin3 θdθdφ
θ=0 φ=0

= 2π · 0.112
= 0.71 Watts

Hence, the most suitable choice is b.

2
3. A small parabolic reflector antenna (dish) is designed to use as TV antenna for
direct broadcast. Assuming the diameter of the reflector is 1 meter, determine the
directivity of the antenna at 3 GHz, when the dish has illumination efficiency and
spillover efficiency of 85% and 90% respectively. (There are no loss other than the
mentioned ones)
a. 35 dB
b. 21 dB
c. 19 dB
d. 40 dB
Solution:
The total aperture efficiency of the dish antenna will simply be the product of
those efficiencies. Hence, the aperture efficiency can be determined as η = ηi ηs =
0.85 · 0.9 = 0.77.
Now we know that the maximum directivity of the parabolic reflector is given by
D = 4π( πd
λ
)2 . So, considering the efficiency D = η( πd
λ
)2 . Therefore,
πd 2
D = η4π( )
λ
πdf 2
= 4πη( )
c
π · 1 · 3 × 109 2
= 0.77 · 4π( )
3 × 108
= 9549.93
In, dB scale the value becomes 39.8 dB. Thus the appropriate choice is d.
4. A 10 m diameter earth-based paraboloidal reflector antenna, which is used for satel-
lite television, has a f /d ratio of 0.433. The feed amplitude gain pattern is rationally
symmetric in the azimuthal plane and it is given by
( ′
′ ′ 3.42 cos2 ( θ2 ); 0 ≤ θ′ ≤ π2
g(θ , φ ) =
0; otherwise
Determine the spillover efficiency of the reflector.
(a) 0.44
(b) 0.88
(c) 0.88%
(d) 0.44%
Solution:
From the specified f /D ratio, we can determine the angle of the paraboloid reflector,
1
Ψ = 4 · tan−1 ( 4×0.433 ) = 2.1c , which is equivalently 120.320.
Now, from the definition of the spillover efficiency, it can be mathematically modelled
as
´ 2π ´ Ψ2
φ′ =0 θ ′ =0
g(θ′ , φ′ ) sin θ′ dθ′ dφ′
ηs = ´ 2π ´ π
φ′ =0 θ ′ =0
g(θ′ , φ′ ) sin θ′ dθ′ dφ′

3
 So,
´ 2π ´ 2.1
θ′
φ′ =0
2
θ ′ =0 3.42 cos2
2
sin θ′ dθ′ dφ′
ηs = ´ 2π ´ π θ′
2
3.42 cos 2 sin θ′ dθ′ dφ′
φ′ =0 θ ′ =0
´ 2.1 θ′
2
cos2 sin θ′ dθ′ dφ′
= ´θπ=0
′
2
θ′
θ ′ =0
cos2 2
sin θ′ dθ′ dφ′
= 0.44

Thus, the appropriate choice is a.

5. An horn of directivity Df antenna is feeding a parabolic reflector having the angle

of the paraboloid as 1.85c at 3 GHz. The feed has an azimuth-symmetric radiation
pattern and given by g(θ′ , φ′ ) = 6 cos2 θ′ when 0 ≤ θ′ ≤ π2 . Determine the value of
Df .

a. 7.8
b. 7.8 dB
c. 6 dB
d. 0

Solution:
The directivity of the feed horn can be defined as Df = 4π Total Powermax{g(θ)}
Radiated by the Feed
.
The total power radiated by the feed can be calculated as
π
ˆ2 ˆ2π
Pf = g(θ′, φ′ ) sin θ′ dθ′ dφ′
θ ′ =0 φ′ =0
π
ˆ2
= 2π 6 cos2 θ′ sin θ′ dθ′
θ ′ =0
2π · 6
= = 4π
3

. Therefore, the directivity of the feed Df = 4π g(0)

4π
= 6. Hence, the appropriate
choice is b.

6. The offset feed mount is used to

a. minimize the signal blockage by the feed

b. achieve the efficiency of 1
c. maintain the balance in the antenna setup
d. all of these

Solution
The primary objective of the offset feed mount is to reduce the amount of signal
blockage caused by the feed. So, the correct option is a.

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7. A parabolic reflector antenna has fd = 0.6. If the reflector antenna is fed by an
uniform radiator within the region 0 ≤ θ′ ≤ π2 ; 0 ≤ φ′ ≤ 2 ∗ π, determine the
aperture efficiency if there are no loss due to phase error and polarisation .

a. 0.31
b. 0.13
c. 0.05
d. 0.02

Solution
1
he angle of the paraboloid reflector can be determined as Ψ = 4·tan−1 ( 4×0.6) = 1.58c .
We know that the aperture efficiency product of the illumination efficiency and
spillover efficiency when polarisation loss and loss due the phase error are negligible.
Now the illumination efficiency of the aperture can be computed by
Ψ
´2 p ′
| g(θ′ ) tan θ2 dθ′ |2
Ψ 0
ηi = 2 cot2 ( )[ ]
4 Ψ
´2
sin θ′ dθ
0
0.79
′
tan2 ( θ2 )dθ′ |2
´
|
1.58 0
= 2 cot2 ( )[ 0.79
]
4 ´
sin θ′ dθ′
0
2 (0.4)2
= 1.58 ·
tan2 4
0.29
= 0.06

Similarly the spillover efficiency of the reflector will be

Ψ
´2
sin θ′ dθ′
0
ηs = π
´2
sin θ′ dθ′
0
0.79
sin θ′ dθ′
´
0
= 1.57
´
sin θ′ dθ′
0
0.3

Therefore, the overall aperture efficiency of the reflector antenna will be 0.06 ×0.3 =
0.02. The correct choice is d.

8. A dual reflector based antenna is popular than the single reflector based antenna
system as

5
a. the amplitude of the field distribution on the main reflector can be controlled.
b. the phase of the field distribution on the main reflector can be controlled.
c. the greater efficiency can be achieved than the single reflector antenna system.
d. all of these

Solution
The appropriate option is d.