Relationship between the adaptive performance of antenna arrays and their underlying electromagnetic characteristics

A direct relationship between the conventional array characteristics of an antenna array and its performence in an adaptive mode is established. Expressions to obtain the output signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) of an adaptive array in terms of its unperturbed pattern (the radiation pattern of the array responding to a desired signal in the absence of any interfering signal) and the locations of the desired signal and jammers are provided. These expressions permit the evaluation of the performance of an adaptive array without an exhaustive search of all possible signal-jammer scenarios and parametric values. An algorithm to select element location of one dimensional arrays is presented. The algorithm leads to thinned arrays which provide the required performance level in a two dimensional field of view. The one dimensional approach is extended to provide planar arrays for aircraft and satellite adaptive antenna systems.