A non-conventional planar phased array based on the field equivalence principle for wide angle steering of Gaussian beams

A non-conventional planar phased array (PA) for generation and steering of Gaussian electromagnetic (EM) beams (GB) is investigated in detail. It includes a new approach. The near field of an ideal virtual antenna (VA), which generates the desired Gaussian beam, is calculated on a displaced and tilted planar finite size reference aperture (RAP) which intercepts most of the near field of VA. By the Schelkunoff’s equivalence principle, the tangential components of $VA$ on the RAP (the signature of VA) radiates the same field as VA. The tilt angle of RAP with respect to the VA is the steering angle of the GB. The RAP is divided into rectangular subapertures (SAP), simulating the elements of a PA. The fields of VA at the center of SAP’s are used as the excitations of the microstrip antenna elements replacing SAP. The SAP separations can be comparable to or greater than a wavelength. A subarray method is developed for the suppression of grating lobes. The numerical results are presented to validate the concept.