Reduced-Profile UWB Vivaldi Antenna Arrays with Improved Co- to Cross-Polarization Ratio
Conference
McChesney, MG, Koutinos, AG, Zekios, CL et al. (2026). Reduced-Profile UWB Vivaldi Antenna Arrays with Improved Co- to Cross-Polarization Ratio
. 2015 IEEE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION & USNC/URSI NATIONAL RADIO SCIENCE MEETING, 1219-1221. 10.1109/AP-S/USNC-URSI60190.2026.11675693
McChesney, MG, Koutinos, AG, Zekios, CL et al. (2026). Reduced-Profile UWB Vivaldi Antenna Arrays with Improved Co- to Cross-Polarization Ratio
. 2015 IEEE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION & USNC/URSI NATIONAL RADIO SCIENCE MEETING, 1219-1221. 10.1109/AP-S/USNC-URSI60190.2026.11675693
Large profiles and elevated cross-polarization levels in Vivaldi arrays, particularly during scanning in nonprincipal planes, are well-known challenges inherently linked to the antenna's geometry. This issue is especially critical because the profile of a Vivaldi antenna is directly associated with its operational bandwidth. Taller profiles generally enable wider bandwidths and improved impedance matching. In this work, we demonstrate that it is possible to design Vivaldi arrays with substantially reduced profiles and significantly enhanced co- to cross-polarization separation without compromising operational bandwidth. Leveraging our previously established frequencypulling technique (FPT) to enhance broadband matching, we design a Vivaldi antenna whose profile is reduced by more than 50% compared to its conventional counterpart, while achieving a more than two times improvement in co- to cross-polarization separation. Notably, these improvements are realized without compromising the excellent impedance matching and radiation efficiency characteristic of traditional Vivaldi antennas.
