Considerations in the design of parallel plate lüneburg beamformers and cylindrical arrays

We present a new concept for a low-profile, low cost integrated multi-beam cylindrical array. It consists of a parallel plate 2D Luneburg beamformer feeding a cylindrical aperture. The concept incorporates a number of novel features, such as low profile, and highly directive excitations. All these features are introduced in order to reduce volume, weight and ultimately cost. The paper discusses the various challenges this concept presents, and ways to mitigate these difficulties.