Radiation Pattern of the SKALA antenna in the vicinity of a finite ground plane

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Supervisors: Craeye, Christophe
Faculty: Ecole polytechnique de Louvain
Degree label: Master [120] : ingénieur civil électricien
Abstract: One of the challenges regarding the SKA radio-telescope is the determination of the radiation pattern of the low frequency antenna in presence of a finite ground plane. In this Master Thesis, a methodology based on a spectral approach is built to calculate relatively fast the current induced in a finite ground plane placed under a given source. The field radiated by the source is estimated thanks to a method based on the decomposition into inhomogeneous plane waves and the current induced in the ground plane is calculated by solving a Method of Moments linear system of equations. The method is applied to the low frequency antenna of the SKA for different frequencies and ground plane diameters. The results are validated against the ones obtained with the EM simulation software FEKO.