Interleaved thinned linear arrays based on modified iterative FFT technique

Interleaved thinned arrays sharing aperture based on the aperture ratio of reuse is an effective way to realize airborne multifunction. A new method to interleave thinned linear arrays is proposed in this paper based on the modified Iterative Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) algorithm. The sub-arrays spectrum energy distributed is achieved evenly by making the Fourier transform to linear array antennas' excitation, analyzing the frequency spectrum and selecting the incentive crossly to ensure the positions of the thinned sub-array antennas. On this basis, the iterative FFT algorithm is adopted to thin the linear array. The simulations show that compare with the difference sets and the genetic algorithm, this technique can ensure the first subarray under the condition of thinned optimization, at the same time, the Peak Sidelobe Level (PSL) of the second subarray is similar to the first sub-array. It means that the new method is effective to restrain the side lobe levels and useful to interleaved array optimization.