Differential Evolution Algorithm for Optimizing the Conflicting Parameters in Time-Modulated Linear Array Antennas

In this paper, a new technique is proposed to optimize the conflicting parameters like low value of maximum side lobe level (SLL), narrow beam-width of the main beam and low value of maximum sideband radiation level (SRL) of time-modulated linear antenna arrays (TMLAAs). The method is based on minimizing a multi-objective fitness function by using single-objective differential evolution algorithm (DEA) technique. The method is applied to both uniformly excited TMLAA (UE-TMLAA) and non-uniformly excited TMLAA (NUE-TMLAA) to synthesize low side lobe optimum pattern at operating frequency by suppressing the sideband radiation level to a sufficiently low value. For UE-TMLAA only the switch-on time durations of the array elements and for NUE-TMLAA the switch-on time durations and the static amplitudes with predetermined dynamic range ratio (DRR) of static amplitudes are taken as the optimization parameters for the DEA. To show effectiveness of the proposed approach, the single-objective DEA optimized results are compared with those obtained by other single objective and multi-objective techniques that has been reported previously. Also, first null beam width (FNBW) and half power beam width (HPBW) of the DEA optimized patterns at fundamental radiation are compared with those of the Dolph-Chebyshev (D-C) pattern of same SLL.