Antenna pattern synthesis based on optimization in a probabilistic sense

A method for synthesizing patterns of antenna arrays is discussed. An approach involving the optimization of a performance index in a statistical sense is used to avoid unstable impractical designs which are highly sensitive to random errors in excitation. Wider bandwidth and reduced ohmic losses are also obtained by the reduction of the sensitivity of the array to errors in excitation. It is illustrated with the aid of examples that only a rough knowledge of the statistics of the excitation error is needed for the application of the new method.