Ridge waveguide slot array for broadband application

A ridged waveguide slot array, comprising:

• a waveguide slot body having one or more walls that define a longitudinal axis of the waveguide slot body, the waveguide slot body comprising a plurality of slots disposed on the one or more walls and extending along the longitudinal axis, the waveguide slot body defining a waveguide aperture having a major dimension and a minor dimension, wherein the major dimension of the waveguide aperture is less than one-half wavelength of a signal intended for propagation therein;
• and
• first and second ridged waveguide sections attached to the waveguide slot body, each of the ridged waveguide sections comprising two spaced-apart opposing ridges disposed on the one or more walls of the waveguide slot body and extending along the longitudinal axis of the waveguide slot body, the first and second ridged waveguide sections extending longitudinally along opposing lateral sides of the waveguide slot antenna body,
• wherein the waveguide slot body is characterized by a longitudinal center line, wherein each slot of the plurality of slots is characterized by a slot area, a slot offset distance extending from center of the slot to the longitudinal center line, and a slot-to-slot separation distance extending from center of the slot to center of an adjacent slot;
• and
• wherein each of the slot area, the slot offset distance and the slot-to-slot separation distance is decreased successively for a succession of the plurality of slots.