Using Planar Probe Array Near Field Measurement to Obtain Accurate Far Field Antenna Pattern Efficiently

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to illustrate that using a planar probe array over the measurement plane to do the near field measurements and applying computational electromagnetics method rather than the classical Fourier base methods to do the near-field (NF) to far-field (FF) transformation can obtain accurate far field antenna pattern efficiently. Also, in this approach there is no need to incorporate probe correction unlike in the existing approaches. This is accomplished by solving for the equivalent magnetic current over a plane near the original antenna source and then employing the method of moments approach to solve for the equivalent currents. In this methodology there is no need to satisfy the Nyquist sampling criteria and a super resolution can be achieved in the solution of the equivalent magnetic current to predict the operation of the antenna. The two components of the equivalent currents can be solved independently from the two components of the measured electric fields. Sample numerical results are presented to illustrate the potential of a novel planar near field to far field transformation for the planar near field measurement technique.