High Power Waveguide-fed Helical Antenna for Broadband Applications

A broadband, 6.6 to 13.6 GHz, helical antenna array is designed for high power handling in a monolithic manufacturing process. This $2\times 1$ array antenna is fed by a standard WRD650 double ridge waveguide that is bifurcated into two custom single ridge waveguides feeding two same sense wound monofilar helices. The antenna system is designed for 3D-printing as a single piece and electroplated to achieve wideband, circularly polarized performance with VSWR $< 2:1$, directivity $> 12$ dBic, and axial ratio $< 3\text{dB}$ over most of the beamwidth.