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We present the results of investigations in order to design wideband horn antennas both with respect to the return loss and the cross polarisation level. The work reported was intended to design a microwave source with less than 40 dB VSWR, less than -50 dB cross polarisation and low sidelobes over 20% bandwidth. Two analysis techniques may be used for the simulation of such antennas: the method of moment (MoM) based on solution of integral equations, and the scattering matrix technique. The results presented have been obtained using the MoM technique by means of 1D integral equations.

The paper describes investigations and use of a reconformable reflector. Implementation is discussed for millimetre and/or sub-millimetre wave antenna configurations. The perspectives of alleviating requirements for the high-accuracy main reflector, which can be very expensive, are of great interest. This is the case in particular for space applications, with stringent environmental constraints. Applications for radiometers, sounders or ground-based radio-telescopes are of interest. The technological implementation is based on a galvanic electroformed nickel shell as developed by Media-Lario, which permits deformation capabilities suitable for mm/sub-mm applications.