Abstract
In this paper, a new hybrid mode matching-finite element-spectral decomposition (MM-FE-SD) approach applied to the analysis of finite large arrays is presented. The proposed technique combines the numerical efficiency of the MM procedure, applied to the unit cell, with the capability of the SD to reduce the finite problem to a superposition of several doubly-periodic ones. In particular, the MM-FE is applied to the analysis of an infinite phased array of apertures arranged in a triangular lattice and fed by rectangular waveguides with thick irises. The irises as well as the waveguides may be arbitrarily shaped, and the effect of dielectric sheet radomes can also be accounted for. Representative numerical examples are shown to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.