Optimization of Sparse Plane Arrays Using an Improved Genetic Algorithm

For the element position synthesis of sparse rectangular plane arrays with the design constraints of the number of elements, the aperture and the minimum element spacing, an improved genetic algorithm (IGA) based on chromosome element resetting is presented in this paper. Compared with the synthesis method of thinned arrays, this new approach could exploit more degree of freedom of elements to control the characters of the sparse arrays. When the aperture, the number of elements and the minimum element spacing are fixed identical, the new approach can make the sparse plane array produce lower peak sidelobe level (PSLL). The simulated results show that the fitness function value of thinned plane arrays with 108 elements mentioned by Haupt can reduce 5.626dB when the minimum element spacing of half wavelength was introduced into the optimization. And as well, the great efficiency and the robustness of IGA are shown in this paper.