DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONIC ELECTRICAL & COMPUTER ENGINEERING

ANTENNA THEORY AND RADAR SYSTEMS

EEE 537: 3 Units
Time: 2 hours, 30mins Date: January 2016
Instruction to candidates: Maximum Mark: 70
Answer question 1 and any other three.
Question 1

(a) Using relevant sketches and equations where applicable, define each of the following terms
and explain their relevance in antenna design:

(i) Radiated power [2 mark]

(ii) Directivity [2 marks]
(iii) Minor lobes [1 marks]
(b) Define the term “isotropic radiator” and explain, using electromagnetic wave properties,
why an isotropic antenna cannot be constructed in practice. [4 marks]

(c) Show that, operating with a noise bandwidth of 1.67 MHz at peak power of 1.4 MW, a radar
system with the parameters in Table 1 will get a reasonable signal-to-noise ratio on a small UAV
(Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) at 60 nmi. Assume the losses to be 8 dB. [10 marks]

Table 1
Parameters Value
UAV cross section 1 𝑚2
System noise temperature 9500 𝐾
Boltzmann’s constant 1.38× 10−23 w/𝐻𝑧 0 𝐾
Frequency 2800 MHz
Antenna dimension 4.29 m by 2.07 m

Question 2

(a) List any five (5) loss terms in typical radar systems. [5 marks]

(b) Using a block diagram explain the operation of primary pulse radar system. [6 marks]

(c) A radar system can perform search at a range of 1000 km, state any five (5) modifications
that can be done in order to increase the system range to 2000 km. [6 marks]
Question 3

(a) List and explain any four (4) key functions of a radar system. [4 marks]

(b) List any three (3) sources of noise at the receiver of a radar system. [3 marks]

(c) Given that the power density 𝑃𝑡 of an ideal radiating antenna is inversely proportional to the
radar range R:

(i) Derive the radar range equation. [6 marks]

𝑆
(ii) Show that the signal-to-Noise ratio, 𝑁, of a radar system is inversely proportional to the
Noise Bandwidth 𝐵𝑛 of the receiver and the system noise temperature 𝑇𝑠 . [4 marks]

Question 4

(a) Define the term “travelling wave antenna” and state its characteristic advantage in
communication system design. [3 marks]

(b) Derive the expression for the total power radiated by a Hertzian dipole. [ 7 marks]

(c) A radar system is operated at 10 GHz with a peak power of 500 kW. If the minimum
receivable power is 10-12 W, the capture area of the radar antenna is 5 m2 and the radar cross-
section target is 20 m2, find the maximum range. [7 marks]

Question 5

(a) Define the following:

(i) Beam area [2 marks]

(ii) Polarization [2 marks]
(iii) Half Power Beam Width (HPBW) [2 marks]

(b) With the use of relevant equations, explain the three possible antenna polarizations.
[4 marks]
(c) A cross dipole is constructed by a vertical Hertzian dipole along the Z-axis and the
horizontal dipole along the x-axis as shown in Figure 1. If the horizontal Hertzian dipole is
excited with a phase difference of 900 with respect to the vertical Hertzian dipole. What is the
polarization of the total far-zone field in the direction of 𝜃 = 900 , ∅ = 900 ? [7 marks]
 Figure 1

Question 6

(a) Define the terms “radiation impedance” and “VSWR” in relation to antenna theory?
Interpret their importance in antenna design and simulation. [4 marks]
(b) Define array antenna and specify the crucial requirement for effective antenna array
arrangement. [5 marks]
(c) An array antenna is formed from two elements each of 50 dB aperture gain, which are
separated in space by 100,000 wavelengths. Calculate the boresight gain of the array. Estimate
how many interference fringes of the array pattern lie within the -3 dB contours of the element
pattern. [8 marks]