A comparison between basis functions for the efficient invasive weed optimization-based optimization of phase-only linear array patterns

Synthesis of phased array antennas generating shaped patterns by exploiting phase tapering only is a challenging problem. A phase-only tapering permits maximizing the DC to RF power efficiency and results to be particularly useful in satellite applications with stringent constraints on the available power. Such a synthesis is a highly nonlinear problem most effectively addressed via stochastic optimization techniques. In this paper several basis functions to represent the phase distribution are traded-off and compared, within an invasive weed optimization paradigm.