Feed array breadboard for future passive microwave radiometer antennas

The pattern of a 265 mm × 200 mm breadboard made of 35 x-polarized and 32 y-polarized Vivaldi antennas located above a finite ground plane is computed and measured at 6.9 GHz. The breadboard constitutes the feed array illuminating a 5 m conical scan antenna working at 6.9 GHz for next generation microwave radiometers for ocean observation. The analysis is done including mutual coupling between the elements, and in two commercial software, the MoM add-on to GRASP and CST. The breadboard is measured at the Spherical Near-Field Antenna Test Facility at the Technical University of Denmark.