Results of conceptual developments, numerical simulations, and measurement verifications for array feeds are presented in support of their use as a compensating device for reflector antenna surface distortions. Representative data are presented to provide guidelines for the implementation of the array-compensation concept. Both the numerical and experimental data have demonstrated that, for some typical, slowly varying thermal or gravitational surface distortion, a 19-element array feed can improve the reflector performance considerably. In particular, it has been demonstrated that it will be possible to compensate for the surface distortion without actual knowledge of the distortion itself.
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