Citation

Abstract

The results of X-band noise temperature tests on two types of antenna surface panels are presented. The first type tested was a solid antenna panel, while the second type was a perforated panel with 3/16-in.-diameter holes. Measurements were made at 8.45 GHz using an X-band radiometric system. Included in this article are measured noise temperature contributions from (1) thermal diffusive white paint on solid and perforated panels and (2) water sprayed on both painted and unpainted perforated panels. For this article, experiments on perforated panels were restricted to the 3/16-in.-diameter hole panels formerly used on Deep Space Network 64-m antennas. Rigorous calibration equations, applicable to a variety of antenna panel and dichroic plate test configurations, are presented. It has been demonstrated that an accurate, stable radiometric measurement system of the type used for the results of this article makes it possible to obtain information that would be much more difficult to obtain using other techniques.

Details

Volume
42-100
Published
February 15, 1990
Pages
111–130
File Size
912.4 KB