Characterization of SKA-AAlow antenna elements in the array environment

The electromagnetic modeling and testing is presented for antenna elements devoted to the low frequency band of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope [1]. Covering a band from 70 to 450 MHz, these elements consist on a log-periodic dipole array (LPDA) model and they have been designed for maximum sensitivity across the band in the region +/- 45 degrees from zenith. A 16-element array (AAVS0 - Aperture Array Verification System 0) has been built in Lords Bridge, Cambridge, UK, and it is being tested to validate the electromagnetic properties of the antenna elements and front-end. We focus on the modeling of these elements and compare simulated and measured data for simulation software validation.

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