Optimization of arbitrarily shaped dielectric axisymmetric horns through finite elements and the annealing algorithm

This work addresses the design of dielectric axisymmetric horns with arbitrarily shape profile. The optimization is carried out by an adaptive version of the simulated annealing (SA) algorithm. In this way we avoid local minimum. No information about initial shape is introduced. The analysis is performed by a hybrid method based on the segmentation technique, the finite-element method and a matrix Lanczos–Pade algorithm (SFELP), adapted to problems with axial symmetry. A set of example designs are presented to verify the technique. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 48: 1074–1079, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21605