Selection of location of radiators in a non-equivident antenna array

Antennas are one of the main elements of radio engineering systems. Phased antenna arrays (PAR), which make it possible to regulate the direction of radiation due to the ability to control the phases or phase differences of the emitted signal, are the most effective types of antennas. The size, design and shape of the PAR depend on the tasks to be solved, the type of emitters and the nature of their location. The article discusses the transformation of an equidistant PAR into a non-equidistant antenna array in order to reduce the level of side lobes and suppress diffraction maxima with a given minimum distance between the emitters. A model of a non-equidistant antenna array and calculation formulas for its analysis are presented. The method presented in the work based on iterative calculation methods makes it possible to select the main parameters of a non-equidistant PAR taking into account the bonds formed between neighboring radiating elements. The coordinates of the emitter elements of the non-equidistant PAR were calculated in a program using the MATLAB language. At the same time, a method was implemented to search for the optimal arrangement of emitters relative to each other, in which the directional pattern of the antenna array will have a minimum level of diffraction maxima and the required level of side lobe. According to the results of the program execution, the coordinates of the new non-equidistant PAR were obtained. The non-equidistant phased array antenna simulated according to the calculation results showed a complete absence of diffraction maxima, in contrast to the equidistant array, but it was not possible to sufficiently obtain the required level of side lobes. The calculated antenna radiation patterns presented for comparison showed the advantages of a non-equidistant antenn array.