Radomes for large millimeter and sub-millimeter wave antenna systems

A number of large aperture reflector antennas are currently planned or under construction, for use in the mm and sub-mm wave parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. The electromagnetic effects of metal spaceframe radomes on very large aperture mm-wave and submm-wave radio telescopes have been investigated in detail, allowing numerical predictions of characteristics such as antenna gain and noise temperature to be predicted, and the significant mechanisms understood. It has been demonstrated that the radome has only a small effect on the system performance, so that there is a considerable net benefit obtained by the enclosure of the antenna system in the controlled environment of a radome.