Design of non-uniform circular antenna arrays for side lobe reduction using the method of genetic algorithms

A design problem of non-uniform circular antenna arrays for maximal side lobe level reduction with the constraint of a fixed beam width is dealt with. This problem is modeled as a simple optimization problem. The method of genetic algorithms is used to determine an optimum a set of weights and antenna element separations that provide a radiation pattern with maximal side lobe level reduction with the constraint of a fixed beam width. The effectiveness of genetic algorithms for the design of non-uniform circular arrays is shown by means of experimental results. Experimental results reveal that design of non-uniform circular antenna arrays using the method of genetic algorithms provides a considerable side lobe level reduction with respect to the uniform case. (C) 2006 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.