Beam efficiency of reflector antennas: the simple formula

Beam efficiency has proven to be an important measure for characterizing the performance of reflector antennas. In this paper, a simple formula is presented to allow for a quick estimate of the beam efficiency of reflector antennas. This estimate includes the effects of edge tapers, feed spillover, random surface errors, and central blockage. The application of this formula is detailed in a case study, and its accuracy is demonstrated in comparison with a numerical simulation using diffraction analysis.