In this thesis, the concept of multi-phase centre virtual antenna is thoroughly investigated when a dual-mode primary feed is placed at the focal point of an offset reflector antenna. The virtual antenna requires that the antenna have multiple phase centre locations with identical radiation patterns. It is shown that different polarizations and mode content factors of a dual-mode circular waveguide can displace the phase centre location of an offset reflector antenna without changing its radiation patterns in any direction. This novel idea has promising applications in modern satellite, remote sensing, global positioning systems, and radars with moving platform. The concept is well matched for the modern Displaced Phase Centre Antenna technique, in which a simple signal processing technique is employed to electronically displace the phase centre locations. To avoid mechanically rotating the primary feed, a novel dual-mode feed is also proposed and implemented. It is capable of generating two perpendicular polarized TE11 modes with a fixed aligned TE21 mode. The antenna such developed has a potential application as a transceiver in ground moving target indicator radars. All numerical results are successfully validated by fabricating and testing a prototype antenna in practice. As known, an offset reflector fed by a conventional linear polarized feed suffers from high cross polarization level. This property is also investigated for single-phase centre antenna applications along with sidelobe level and aperture efficiencies. A simplified feed model is proposed utilizing the TE11 and TE21 type modes to reduce the cross polarization at both asymmetry and inter-cardinal planes. It is shown that an asymmetric dominant TE11 mode with the presence of the TE21 mode is sufficient in order to reduce the unwanted cross polarization. The results of this investigation are used to design practical dual-mode feeds using simple circular waveguide geometries. To complete the study, the effects of linear and quadratic phase errors associated with the optimized primary feed are also investigated on the cross polarization of the offset reflector antennas. In particular, the phase errors resulting in separate phase centre locations of each mode produce broadside-shape cross polarized patterns instead of boresight-null ones.

In this thesis, the concept of multi-phase centre virtual antenna is thoroughly investigated when a dual-mode primary feed is placed at the focal point of an offset reflector antenna. The virtual antenna requires that the antenna have multiple phase centre locations with identical radiation patterns. It is shown that different polarizations and mode content factors of a dual-mode circular waveguide can displace the phase centre location of an offset reflector antenna without changing its radiation patterns in any direction. This novel idea has promising applications in modern satellite, remote sensing, global positioning systems, and radars with moving platform. The concept is well matched for the modern Displaced Phase Centre Antenna technique, in which a simple signal processing technique is employed to electronically displace the phase centre locations. To avoid mechanically rotating the primary feed, a novel dual-mode feed is also proposed and implemented. It is capable of generating two perpendicular polarized TE11 modes with a fixed aligned TE21 mode. The antenna such developed has a potential application as a transceiver in ground moving target indicator radars. All numerical results are successfully validated by fabricating and testing a prototype antenna in practice. As known, an offset reflector fed by a conventional linear polarized feed suffers from high cross polarization level. This property is also investigated for single-phase centre antenna applications along with sidelobe level and aperture efficiencies. A simplified feed model is proposed utilizing the TE11 and TE21 type modes to reduce the cross polarization at both asymmetry and inter-cardinal planes. It is shown that an asymmetric dominant TE11 mode with the presence of the TE21 mode is sufficient in order to reduce the unwanted cross polarization. The results of this investigation are used to design practical dual-mode feeds using simple circular waveguide geometries. To complete the study, the effects of linear and quadratic phase errors associated with the optimized primary feed are also investigated on the cross polarization of the offset reflector antennas. In particular, the phase errors resulting in separate phase centre locations of each mode produce broadside-shape cross polarized patterns instead of boresight-null ones.

This thesis examines the effect on height determination of the antenna phase centre variation of GPS user segment antennae. A discussion of the various antenna types in common use is followed by an explanation of the problem at hand. In particular the effect of the antenna's environment on the phase centre variation is covered more fully, since the phase variation phenomenon itself is largely unexplained in the engineering community to date. A number of examples of the heighting errors caused by this phenomenon are presented, followed by specifically designed experiments, which quantify the effect. Finally the phase centre variation itself is modelled for a particular GPS antenna in common use by surveyors in Australia. The overall conclusion, arrived at by demonstration, is that the antenna phase centre offsets and the variation model are very important for high accuracy determinations of height.

This thesis investigates omnidirectional and directional ultra wideband (UWB) antennas for communication and microwave imaging applications. To reduce interference with existing technologies, monopole antennas with efficient band-stop functions are introduced. Single and double slots acting as series resonators are used. Reduction in the antenna gain in the stop-band regions of about 19.5 dB is achieved. Central metal removal and ground plane size effects on the antenna performance are investigated. To eliminate signal distortion caused by such monopole antennas, phase centre behaviour over the entire frequency band of operation is investigated at different principle planes, which have not been done before. This study will also show how these antennas act in different communication scenarios and where the radiation will be coming from at different frequencies. The effect of including different slots with different shapes on the performance of phase centre of these antennas is also investigated. Different methods to minimize the antenna phase centre movement are studied. Novel microstrip antennas with UWB impedance and radiation pattern bandwidth and low cross polarization components are introduced to work over the frequency band from 3 to 20 GHz. The antennas introduced are double-layer structures in which the radiator is sandwiched between two identical partial ground planes or a partial ground plane is sandwiched between two radiators. Results show a significant reduction in the cross polarization components at all frequencies. A novel high gain UWB Vee dipole antenna with a UWB coaxial balun feed is introduced to cover the existing and future UWB communication applications. Different type of loadings such as a reflecting ground below the antenna, a dielectric sleeve over the UWB balun and conical dielectrics between the Vee plates are also used and studied that show enhanced gains and lower sidelobes. A miniaturized-type UWB Vee dipole antenna is also investigated for microwave imaging applications. The antenna has a small radiation aperture which makes it a good candidate for array type applications. Full wave analysis of studied antennas are done using Ansoft HFSS, finite-element-methods based software. Experimental investigations are done to confirm the accuracy of simulated results.

This thesis investigates omnidirectional and directional ultra wideband (UWB) antennas for communication and microwave imaging applications. To reduce interference with existing technologies, monopole antennas with efficient band-stop functions are introduced. Single and double slots acting as series resonators are used. Reduction in the antenna gain in the stop-band regions of about 19.5 dB is achieved. Central metal removal and ground plane size effects on the antenna performance are investigated. To eliminate signal distortion caused by such monopole antennas, phase centre behaviour over the entire frequency band of operation is investigated at different principle planes, which have not been done before. This study will also show how these antennas act in different communication scenarios and where the radiation will be coming from at different frequencies. The effect of including different slots with different shapes on the performance of phase centre of these antennas is also investigated. Different methods to minimize the antenna phase centre movement are studied. Novel microstrip antennas with UWB impedance and radiation pattern bandwidth and low cross polarization components are introduced to work over the frequency band from 3 to 20 GHz. The antennas introduced are double-layer structures in which the radiator is sandwiched between two identical partial ground planes or a partial ground plane is sandwiched between two radiators. Results show a significant reduction in the cross polarization components at all frequencies. A novel high gain UWB Vee dipole antenna with a UWB coaxial balun feed is introduced to cover the existing and future UWB communication applications. Different type of loadings such as a reflecting ground below the antenna, a dielectric sleeve over the UWB balun and conical dielectrics between the Vee plates are also used and studied that show enhanced gains and lower sidelobes. A miniaturized-type UWB Vee dipole antenna is also investigated for microwave imaging applications. The antenna has a small radiation aperture which makes it a good candidate for array type applications. Full wave analysis of studied antennas are done using Ansoft HFSS, finite-element-methods based software. Experimental investigations are done to confirm the accuracy of simulated results.