Low-Cost Architecture and Efficient Pattern Synthesis for Polarimetric Phased Array Based on Polarization Coding Reconfigurable Elements

TL;DR

This paper introduces a polarization-coding reconfigurable phased array that reduces hardware complexity and cost while maintaining polarization control and beamforming capabilities, validated through simulations and experiments.

Contribution

It proposes a novel PCRPA architecture with polarization coding and optimized synthesis techniques, significantly reducing T/R channels and system complexity.

Findings

Achieves suppressed cross-polarization and low sidelobe levels

Maintains beamforming performance with reduced hardware complexity

Experimental validation confirms feasibility and effectiveness

Abstract

Polarimetric phased arrays (PPAs) enhance radar target detection and anti-jamming capabilities, but their conventional dual transmit/receive (T/R) channel architecture leads to high cost and system complexity. To address these limitations, this paper proposes a polarization-coding reconfigurable phased array (PCRPA) and associated pattern synthesis techniques, which reduce the channel count while preserving key performance. In the PCRPA, each antenna element connects to a single T/R channel and is equipped with a two-level RF switch, enabling real-time control of its polarization state and subarray grouping. By optimizing both the element polarization codes and the excitation weights, the array can synthesize arbitrarily polarized and dual-polarized beams. Simulation results show that the proposed approach achieves suppressed cross-polarization and comparable sidelobe levels compared to conventional PPAs across a wide scan range, with performance improvements being more pronounced in larger arrays. The inherent channel reduction does, however, incur a trade-off in terms of radiated power and directivity. Experimental validation using an $8\times 8$ X-band array antenna confirms the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed system. The PCRPA architecture and the accompanying synthesis methods offer a cost-effective solution for large-scale PPA systems, maintaining sidelobe and polarization control with significantly reduced hardware complexity.