Very compact ortho‐mode transducers with double septum configuration

This paper describes the analysis and design results of a very compact ortho‐mode transducer (OMT) for dual‐polarization communication systems. The presented configuration introduces an additional double septum in the conventional structure, not reported previously, which provides a number of advantages for some of the usual requirements of this type of OMTs. Specifically, the double‐septum configuration enhances the performance of the OMT in two interrelated aspects: (i) it contributes to reduce the size of the axial branch of the OMT preventing the power transfer between horizontal modes at the axial and common ports; (ii) it facilitates the matching of the horizontal polarization between the lateral and common ports. The presented design leads to a very interesting structure for coping with competitive specifications. The proposed structure is validated using a prototype onboard the Hispasat 1D satellite. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 48: 765–767, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21468