Phase-only pattern nulling of linear antenna arrays with the use of a bacterial foraging algorithm

Abstract

In this paper, a bacterial foraging algorithm (BFA) has been used for null steering in the antenna radiation pattern by controlling only the element phases of a linear array. The BFA is an optimization algorithm based on the foraging behavior of Escherichia (E.) coli bacteria in human intestine. Numerical examples of Chebyshev pattern with the single, multiple and broad nulls imposed at the directions of interference are given to show the accuracy and flexibility of the BFA. The sensitivity of the nulling patterns due to small variations of the element phases is also investigated.