THE DESIGN OF A NARROW BEAM ANTENNA FOR AURORAL STUDIES

Abstract

This thesis is concerned with the design of a receiving antenna, which used in a suitable radar system is capable of consmining the radar reflection originating from a small volume of the aurora (of the order of a I km cube). The characteristics of auroral reflections and the desirability of observing auroral echoes with a radar system capable of high resolution are mentioned but not discussed in detail. The antenna designed is essentially a linear, broadside array of dipoles and provides direct resolution in the horizontal direction only. Vertical resolution is obtained indirectly by utilizing a null in the vertical radiation pattern of the receiving antenna, in conjunction with a time multiplexing scheme involving two simple transmitting antennas. A "section", consisting of one fifth of the designed array was built and tested. Detailed construction information is given. Tests, involving satellite and radio stars are described in detail. These tests indicate satisfactory performance of the "section" constructed and suggest that a complete array would also operate satisfactorily.