An Experimental Study of Submillimeter-Wave Horn Antennae for a Submillimeter-Wave Array

Abstract

This paper aims to introduce two types of submillimeter-wave horn antennae designed by the authors and to present numerical findings obtained by an evaluative testing system that has also been developed by the authors. Submillimeter-wave components are widely used in radio-astronomical observation systems. There is a need to minimize (1) the various losses possibly incurred in the wave-receiving unit, and (2) the quantity of the unwanted electromagnetic waves mixing in. It is a well-known fact that a corrugated horn antenna possesses very low levels of cross-polarized field intensity, loss, and side lobes. It is for this reason that the authors have chosen to use corrugated horn antennae as two types of such antennae - one designed for use in the range of 280 GHz to 360 GHz frequencies and tested at 280 GHz, 332 GHz, and 360 GHz, and the other designed for use in the range of 385 GHz to 500 GHz frequencies and tested at 385 GHz, 442.5 GHz, and 500 GHz. The measurements of the antenna beam patterns have been found to largely correspond to those of the numerical analyses; it may be concluded that the antennae are functionally as efficient as they were designed and the testing system doubtless serves the desired purpose.