An accelerated coupled feed-radiator-frequency selective surface model for the next generation active phased array systems

Thales Naval Nederland (TNN) has a great history in developing phased array radar systems for naval applications. The most recent innovative examples are the SMART-L long range 3D volume search radar and the APAR multi-function search/track and missile guidance radar. Recent activities include developments of active phased array antennas consisting of multilayer structures designed for a large scanning range, with a relatively large bandwidth and with low radar cross-section (RCS). Within this context and in collaboration with the Eindhoven University of Technology, we studied these design properties by analysing the electromagnetic behaviour of so-called combined feed-radiator-frequency selective surface type array antennas. More specific, but expressed in more general terms, a numerical model is developed for the analysis of a stratified periodic electromagnetic field problem. In a previous paper [BJ Morsink, et al., 2002], this model is compared and benchmarked against available commercial tooling such as HFSS. An arbitrary structure is analysed for its reflection and transmission properties. The emphasis in this paper however is on a new type of acceleration technique that is presented and implemented to reduce the computation time while maintaining accuracy.