Thinned-array curse: Difference between revisions

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The '''thinned -array curse''' (sometimes, '''sparse -array curse''') is a theorem in [[electromagnetic radiation|electromagnetic]] theory of [[antenna (radio)|antenna]]s. It states that a transmitting antenna which is [[Aperture synthesis|synthesized]] from a coherent [[phased array]] of smaller antenna apertures that are spaced apart will have a smaller minimum beam spot size (typically, the [[main lobe]] has a [[solid angle]] that is smaller by an amount proportional to the ratio of the area of the synthesized array to the total area of the individual apertures), but the amount of power that is beamed into this main lobe is reduced by an exactly proportional amount, so that the total power density in the beam is constant.

The origin of the term "thinned array curse" is not clear. [[Robert L. Forward]] cites use of the term in unpublished [[Hughes Research Laboratories]] reports dating from 1976.<ref>T. R. O'Meara, ''The Thinned Array Curse Theorems,'' Hughes Research Laboratories, unpublished internal report, Malibu CA Dec. 1976</ref><ref>W. B. Bridges, ''Looking at the Thinned Array Curse from a Slightly Different View,'' Hughes Research Laboratories, unpublished internal report, Malibu CA April 1976</ref>