Fast Analysis of Large Antenna Arrays Using the Characteristic Basis Function Method and the Adaptive Cross Approximation Algorithm

• Published in: IEEE transactions on antennas and propagation Vol. 56; no. 11; pp. 3440 - 3451
• Main Authors: Maaskant, R., Mittra, R., Tijhuis, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.11.2008; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Adaptive algorithms; Adaptive arrays; Adaptive cross approximation (ACA); Algorithm design and analysis; Algorithms; Antenna arrays; Antennas; Applied sciences; Approximation; Approximation algorithms; Basis functions; characteristic basis function method (CBFM); Computational efficiency; Diffraction; Exact sciences and technology; finite arrays; integral equation techniques; Integral equations; Large-scale systems; macro basis functions; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Phased arrays; Radiocommunications; Slot antennas; Studies; Telecommunications; Telecommunications and information theory; Performance evaluation; Adaptive cross approximation (ACA); Adaptive algorithm; Operator equation; Surface current; characteristic basis function method (CBFM); Characteristic function; Accuracy; integral equation techniques; Interconnection; Slot antenna; Numerical simulation; Integral equation; finite arrays; Antenna array; Matrix equation; macro basis functions
• ISSN: 0018-926X; 1558-2221
• DOI: 10.1109/TAP.2008.2005471

The characteristic basis function method (CBFM) has been hybridized with the adaptive cross approximation (ACA) algorithm to construct a reduced matrix equation in a time-efficient manner and to solve electrically large antenna array problems in-core, with a solve time orders of magnitude less than those in the conventional methods. Various numerical examples are presented that demonstrate that the proposed method has a very good accuracy, computational efficiency and reduced memory storage requirement. Specifically, we analyze large 1-D and 2-D arrays of electrically interconnected tapered slot antennas (TSAs). The entire computational domain is subdivided into many smaller subdomains, each of which supports a set of characteristic basis functions (CBFs). We also present a novel scheme for generating the CBFs that do not conform to the edge condition at the truncated edge of each subdomain, and provide a minor overlap between the CBFs in adjacent subdomains. As a result, the CBFs preserve the continuity of the surface current across the subdomain interfaces, thereby circumventing the need to use separate ldquoconnectionrdquo basis functions.