Linear and Non-Linear Synthesis of Unequally Spaced Time-Modulated Linear Arrays Using Evolutionary Algorithms

A novel method of designing unequally spaced time-modulated arrays (UESTMAs) by handling fewer optimization parameters with reduced problem dimension is presented in this paper. For synthesizing UESTMA, two design parameters, specifically, the non-linear parameter - element position, and the linear parameter – on-time durations are optimized in two steps. Different possible cases of linear and non-linear synthesis methods such as, position-only (PO), on-time only (OTO), position then on-time (PTOT), on-time then position (OTTP), and simultaneous position on-time (SPOT) are considered. To examine the performance of the synthesis methods, three global search stochastic algorithms based on differential evolution (DE), teaching-learning-based optimization (TLBO) and quantum particle swarm optimization (QPSO) have been employed to achieve the array pattern with significantly suppressed side lobe levels and sideband levels. Through comparative study, it is observed that the two step non-liner to linear synthesis method by fewer optimization parameters is efficient to provide better pattern with less computation time.