Performance of Computational Tools for Wideband Quadruple-Ridged Flared Horn Analysis

For full-wave analysis of a complex quadruple-ridged flared horn (QRFH) antenna over a wide band, the performance of a few well-known commercial computational electromagnetics tools is compared, to assess variability in results and runtimes, to be anticipated and contended with, by designers. The QRFH is designed for the Next Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA), radio astronomy instrument. The range of solvers include both differential and integral equation based methods, as well as frequency and time domain formulations. Default settings were used as much as possible, but manual meshing interventions were required. With these kept to a minimum, fair correspondence in port parameters, including measurements, is achieved. A few solvers yielded remarkably similar runtimes. The results may lend a degree of confidence to designers, in their full-wave computational tools. The results show the importance of informed solver selection and parameter settings.