Improving a super dual auroral radar network reflector through directivity characterisation

• Main Author: Gray, Christopher Patrick
• Other Authors: Wiid, Gideon, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2019
• Subjects: UCTD; Auroral electrons; Antarctica; Antennas; Reflector; Antarctic; Hoek; SANAE; SANAE IV; Antarc*; Antarktika
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/107228

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2019. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis considers characterising the directivity of the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) radar, located at the South African National Antarctic Expedition Station (SANAE IV) base in Antarctica, to improve the currently installed 90° half corner reflector. A 1:100 scale model of limited array elements was designed, manufactured and measured in the anechoic chamber of the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Faculty at Stellenbosch University. These results were then compared to the same measurement set-up run in simulation with Altair Hyperworks FEKO EM solver software, determining that FEKO can provide suffciently accurate results and that it could be used to characterise the full-scale SuperDARN radar. Through numerous simulation runs, the full-scale model of the currently installed SuperDARN radar with its 90° half corner wire reflector was successfully characterised. Various 90° half corner wire reflectors were then simulated with the aim to improve on the installed 90° half corner wire reflector. It was determined that, while the installed 90° half corner wire reflector does perform within its required operations, a 90 full corner wire re ector would suit the SuperDARN much better. A 90 full corner wire re ector would improve the front to back directivity ratio of the SuperDARN by 6.2 dB and a proposed 90 full corner wire re ector layout design is provided with a front to back ratio of 10.7 dB. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis handel oor die direktiwiteitskarakterisering van die Super Duale Aurora Radar Netwerk se antenna reeks, geleë aan die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Antarktika Ekspedisie basis (SANAE IV) in Antarktika, met die doel om die huidige geïnstalleerde halwe 90 (degree) hoek-weerkaatser te verbeter. 'N Skaalmodel van 1:100 met beperkte skikkingselemente is ontwerp, vervaardig en gemeet in die anekoomkamer van die Fakulteit Elektriese en Elektroniese Ingenieurswese aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch. Hierdie ...