Reflector Antenna Deformation Compensation Based on Phased Array Feed

As human exploration of the universe advances, there is an increasing demand for spaceborne antennas with improved gain, frequency capabilities, and surface accuracy. This paper examines a 9-meter diameter spaceborne reflector antenna, characterized by a focal diameter ratio of 0.6 and operating at 31 GHz, utilizing a truss structure for precise modeling. The study compares the antenna gains achieved with Gaussian feed and phased array feed under varying reflector surface accuracies. At a panel accuracy of 2 millimeters, the Gaussian feed antenna experiences a 2.16 dB decrease in gain compared to an ideal reflector surface, while the phased array feed shows a smaller reduction of 1.55 dB, indicating superior performance with lower energy loss and higher antenna gain. Furthermore, the phased array feed exhibits a gain 1.14 dB higher than the Gaussian feed antenna under the same 2 millimeter panel accuracy condition. This research confirms the feasibility of using phased array feed for spaceborne reflector antennas to mitigate deformation losses. By accurately modeling the antenna's reflective surface, the study demonstrates that phased array feed, employing focal plane field analysis, effectively adapt to deformations of the reflector surface, thereby enhancing antenna performance in spaceborne applications.