Sonar beam shape controlling horn

A method for manufacturing a sonar transducer assembly, the method comprising:

• providing a sonar transducer element having an emitting face, wherein the sonar transducer element is configured to generate a sonar beam extending in a path, wherein the sonar transducer element is configured to operate at an operating frequency, wherein the sonar transducer element possesses a sensitivity;
• determining a horn design for a horn that is spaced apart from the emitting face of the sonar transducer element and has a first diffraction element and a second diffraction element, wherein the first diffraction element defines a curved first diffraction surface with a first apex that extends into the path of the sonar beam, wherein the second diffraction element defines a curved second diffraction surface with a second apex that extends into the path of the sonar beam, wherein the first diffraction element and the second diffraction element both possess a section defining a radius, and wherein a first distance is a minimum distance separating the first apex of the first diffraction element and the second apex of the second diffraction element of the horn, wherein a second distance is defined as a distance that the sonar beam travels in the path between the emitting face and the curved first diffraction surface or the curved second diffraction surface, wherein at least one of the first distance, the second distance, or the radius have been selected so as to increase the sensitivity of the sonar transducer element when the sonar transducer element is operated at the operating frequency;
• providing the horn having the horn design;
• and
• positioning the horn so that the first diffraction element and the second diffraction element rest within the path of the sonar beam and the first apex of the curved first diffraction surface and the second apex of the curved second diffraction surface both extend into the path of the sonar beam so that the first diffraction element and the second diffraction element reform a beam shape of the sonar beam generated by the sonar transducer element,
• wherein the horn is positioned such that the sonar beam passes between the first apex of the first curved diffraction surface and the second apex of the second curved diffraction surface that both extend into the path of the sonar beam.