Edge-Sparsing and Two-Level Tapering to Reduce Sidelobe Level in Small Square Antenna Arrays

This paper describes a method for synthesizing a small square antenna array with a low sidelobe level (SLL). The process is based on a small square antenna array of 12 elements × 12 elements with a size of 6 λ × 6 λ and 8 elements × 8 elements with a size of 4 λ × 4 λ. Then, the square aperiodic is roughly half-filled with approximately in-fill thinning of 55.55% and 50.00% in the planar element arrangement of 12 elements × 12 elements and 8 elements × 8 elements. In the uniform amplitude the value I=1, however in the two-level tapering of the small square antenna array 12 elements × 12 elements using a polynomial equation of degree two so the values I1<1<I2. Meanwhile, the 2-level tapering of the 8 elements x 8 element small square antenna array uses the I value obtained from the Hanning Window method. Moreover, an interesting feature about two-level tapering approach in small square antenna array is proposed in this paper. With this design, sidelobe levels is lower than -21 dB in the Phi = 0° direction and lower than -17 dB in the Phi = 45° direction can be achieved.