An Excitation Matching Procedure for Sub-Arrayed Monopulse Arrays with Maximum Directivity

In this paper, the maximization of the directivity of compromise difference patterns in subarrayed monopulse linear array antennas with optimum sum mode is addressed by means of a two-stage excitation matching procedure. The knowledge of the independently optimum difference excitations, which provide the maximum directivity, is exploited with an efficient matching technique based on the contiguous partition method. Simple and reliable compromise solutions, characterized by a reduced complexity as well as easier antenna manufacturing, are synthesized to assess the effectiveness of the proposed method also in comparison with state-of-the-art methods devoted to the directivity maximization. This paper is a postprint of a paper submitted to and accepted for publication in Radar, Sonar & Navigation and is subject to Institution of Engineering and Technology Copyright. The copy of record is available at IET Digital Library.