Passive electronically scanned array: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added
m {{Bare URL inline}} refs to sites where WP:REFLINKS won't get title. See User:BrownHairedGirl/No-reflinks websites
insert angle θ into phased array caption
Line 1:
[[File:DN-ST-92-02246.JPEG|thumb|The [[Mikoyan MiG-31]] combat aircraft with nose fairing removed, showing its [[Zaslon]] passive electronically scanned array radar antenna. ]]
[[File:Phased array animation with arrow 10frames 371x400px 100ms.gif|thumb|upright=1.2|Animation showing how a passive electronically scanned array works. It consists of an array of antenna elements ''(A)'' powered by a single [[transmitter]] ''(TX)''. The feed current for each antenna passes through a [[phase shifter]] ''(φ)'' controlled by a computer ''(C)''. The moving red lines show the wavefronts of the radio waves emitted by each element. The individual wavefronts are spherical, but they combine ([[Superposition principle|superpose]]) in front of the antenna to create a [[plane wave]], a beam of radio waves travelling in a specific direction θ. The phase shifters delay the radio waves progressively going up the line so each antenna emits its wavefront later than the one below it. This causes the resulting plane wave to be directed at an angle θ to the antenna. The computer can alter the phase shifters to steer the beam to a new direction, very quickly. The velocity of the radio waves is shown slowed down enormously.]]
 
A '''passive electronically scanned array''' ('''PESA'''), also known as '''passive phased array''', is an antenna in which the beam of radio waves can be electronically steered to point in different directions (that is, a [[phased array]] antenna), in which all the antenna elements are connected to a single [[transmitter]] (such as a [[magnetron]], a [[klystron]] or a [[travelling wave tube]]) and/or [[radio receiver|receiver]].