Abstract:

Design and optimization of sparse millimeter wave (MMW) synthesis apeture imaging arrays on hexagonal grids are researched. The arrangement of sparse arrays can be represented by the configuration matrix. Using the auto-correlation matrix and the cross-correlation matrix of the configuration matix, distribution of sampling points in the UV plane of hexagonal array is analyzed, and conditions for sampling points covering the whole UV plane are deduced. Then, the question is converted to design and optimization of a sparse rectangular array. With the virtue of low redundancy, difference basis series are used to design hexagonal arrays, and a method to construct an optimized sparse hexagonal array is presented. Theoretical analysis and simulation show that redundancy of the optimized hexagonal array is lower than that of a typical X style array.