Optimization of the 0.35–1.05 GHz Quad-Ridged Flared Horn and Eleven feeds for the Square Kilometer Array baseline design

Initial optimization results for the wide-band Eleven antenna and Quadruple-Ridged Flared Horn (QRFH), designed to operate as the reflector antenna feeds at 350 - 1050 MHz, are presented and discussed in the context of the next generation radio telescope - the Square Kilometer Array (SKA). First, we describe the procedure that has been developed to carry out time-efficient optimization of the feeds for multiple antenna optics configurations at the system level (so as to maximize the antenna-receiver sensitivity), and then cross-compare the two feed types by assessing the main antenna system characteristics and radio-astronomy performance metrics.