Efficient Design of Super-Directive Antenna Array Using Schelkunoff Method and Genetic Algorithm

• Published in: Canadian journal of electrical and computer engineering Vol. 47; no. 4; pp. 168 - 174
• Main Authors: Hamza, Abubakar, Sheikh, Sharif I. M., Attia, Hussein
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 2024
• Subjects: Antenna arrays; Antenna radiation patterns; Directivity; genetic algorithm (GA); Genetic algorithms; Linear antenna arrays; Microstrip antenna arrays; microstrip array; Optimization; Polynomials; Schelkunoff; super-directive
• ISSN: 2694-1783; 2694-1783
• DOI: 10.1109/ICJECE.2024.3396287

Tightly packed super-directive antenna arrays with complex excitation functions are of recent interest in space communication. In this article, Schelkunoff polynomials and genetic algorithms (GA) are used to formulate the super-directive array excitation functions. The proposed technique used to calculate the antenna properties considerably reduces solver time compared with professional simulators. A packed linear array with an antenna aperture of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">2.85\lambda </tex-math></inline-formula> and element spacing of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">0.3\lambda </tex-math></inline-formula> (center-to-center) is designed to demonstrate a 66.67% increase in directivity, reduced sidelobes, and improved null accuracy as proof of concept. The calculated antenna responses agree well with the results of a professional simulator (HFSS), where the proposed method requires 90% less calculation time compared with the simulator. The experimental results verify the predicted responses and demonstrate a 5-dB increase in the antenna directivity compared with a conventional array.