Computer study of a phase scanned 56 element SBF army

As part of the design study of a high power MST Radar, the theoretical radiation pattern of a 256 element phase scanned Shot Back Fire (SBF) antenna array was studied in detail using computer software and the results are reported here. The array consists of identical SBF elements arranged in a planar doubly periodic array in a 16 x 16 geometry. The interelement distance is chosen as 1 lambda, so that the mutual coupling between the individual SBF elements can be neglected. The effect of introducing differential phase gradients between the SBF elements is also studied in detail, with an ultimate objective of arriving at an upper limit for the antenna beam steerability by the differential phase gradient technique.