Efficient Crosspolar Optimization of Shaped-Beam Dual-Polarized Reflectarrays Using Full-Wave Analysis for the Antenna Element Characterization

Abstract

A method for the optimization of the crosspolar component of dual-polarized reflectarrays using full-wave analysis at the element level is described and demonstrated. The reflectarray full-wave analysis is based on local periodicity (LP) and integrated within the optimization process in order to accurately characterize the crosspolar far field. The proposed method is based on the generalized Intersection Approach framework using the Levenberg–Marquardt Algorithm as backward projector, and the employed full-wave analysis is based on the Method of Moments assuming Local Periodicity (MoM-LP). Several strategies to accelerate the computations are exploited, such as the parallelization of all the algorithm building blocks. To minimize the impact of MoM-LP in the optimization process, a strategy to reduce the number of MoM-LP calls is described, further accelerating the algorithm. Moreover, the convergence is improved by working with the squared field amplitude, alleviating the trap problem of local optimizers. This method allows to optimize the crosspolar component in the whole visible region or only in the coverage zone to facilitate the convergence, reducing computing time and memory usage. Two test cases are provided to validate the technique, one with an isoflux pattern for global Earth coverage and another with European coverage for direct broadcast satellite application