A Dual-Polarized Traveling-Wave Slot Array for X-Band Applications

In this paper, based on a single-ridged waveguide (SRWG) and a rectangular waveguide (RWG), a 16 ×56 slotted waveguide antenna array with dual-polarization, high gain and low side-lobe level is designed and simulated at X-band to validate the slot antenna design for the traveling wave. In this array, the longitudinal slot etched on the broad sidewall of the SRWG is employed for vertical polarization (VP) radiation, while the inclined slot cut in the narrow wall of the RWG is employed for horizontal polarization (HP) radiation. From the simulated results, the bandwidth of the designed antenna for voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) < 1.5 is 0.8GHz at the center frequency of 9.4 GHz. The realized gain at 9.4 GHz is 31dBi with antenna efficiencies better than 83%. The side-lobe level is controlled lower than -31dB over the entire bandwidth. The beam width is 1.6 degrees and the beam direction is 4.5 degrees at 9.4 GHz. The realized gain, beam width, beam pointing and side-lobe of the two polarization modes are almost the same at 9.0GHz, 9.4 GHz and 9.8 GHz. Due to its high gain, compact size, low side-lobe level and easy manufacturing, this array can be combined with the edge-slotted waveguide array to build a two-dimensional dual-polarization antenna array for the applications of sea based X-band radar, satellite communication station, etc.