Heading
Home | Site Map | About MAAS | Contacts
Horns

Notch Antennas

Reflector Systems

Passive Components

Multiband Systems

Wideband Systems

Installed Performance

High-power Components

Dr. P R Foster FREng

  • was educated at Edinburgh (B.Sc., 1957) and Cambridge (Ph.D., 1961)
  • ran a millimetre-wave radio-astronomy group at Aberdeen University (1966-1971)
  • worked in the Antenna Departments of Marconi Research Laboratories (1971-73), RF Technology Centre, ERA (1973-1979)
  • was Manager, New Antenna Systems, British Aerospace Dynamics Group 1979-84.
  • ran Microwave and Antenna Systems providing a service in antenna and microwave component design and installation (1984 - present)

Dr. Foster has been elected to the Royal Academy of Engineering. She also holds the qualification of `European Engineer' (1988) (Eur-Ing) and a Chartered Engineer.

Dr. Foster was on the Board of Directors for ACES (Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society) and has been Conference Chairman for ACES (1992), for ICAP (1991) and CEM (1996). She was also Chairman of IEE Professional Group E11 on Antennas and Propagation from 1989 to 1992.

Dr Foster is a Visiting Professor at the University of Manchester.

Selected Published Literature


  1. D R Vizard, P R Foster, B Lunn and S M Cherry, ‘Millimeter Wave Primary Noise Standards in Waveguide bands 18 -170 GHz, European Microwave Conference, Oct 2007, p352-355
  2. P R Foster and D Vizard, Matched Calibration horns for 8 to 170 GHz in full Waveguide Bands, ARRMS April 2007, Abingdon, UK
  3. P R Foster and Soe Min Tun, 'Methods of Reducing Horn Length', Loughborough Antenna and Propagation Conference, April 2006, p433-436
  4. P R Foster and Soe Min Tun, 'Quasi-Optics Networks for Multi-channel Space Systems', Loughborough Antenna and Propagation Conference, April 2006, p367-372
  5. P R Foster and Soe Min Tun, 'Design Methods for a Ring-Loaded Horn', Loughborough Antenna and Propagation Conference, April 2006, p469-472
  6. P R Foster and Soe Min Tun, 'Wide Band Ring-Loaded Horn', IEE Symposium, Birmingham, Sept 2005
  7. A McCowen and P R Foster, 'A Comparative Study on the Numerical Modelling of Dielectric-Loaded Antennas', Compumag, 2005
  8. P R Foster and A E Wicks, 'Computing the RF Performance of a Small Array', ACES Journal, Nov 2006
  9. P R Foster, P R Ade, R Donnan, J Dupuy and J McNiff, 'Validation of Design Techniques on a Quasi Optics Test bench', Int J of Infrared and MmWave, 2007, Vol 28, no 7, p521-529
  10. P R Foster, S M Tun and AW J Dawkins, ‘A Low Sidelobe Potter Horn’, IEEE Conference CEM 2004, p129-130, Stratford, UK, 2004
  11. P R Foster, S M Tun and R K Child, ‘Beam Waveguide for a Scanning Space Radiometer’, PIERS 2004, Pisa, Italy
  12. P R Foster, D H Martin and R S Donnan, ‘Analysis of the Performance of Planar Optical Components in Quasi-Optical Feed-Systems’, IEE Conference CEM 2004, p143-144, Stratford, UK, 2004
  13. T McNamara, C Carnduff and P R Foster, Comparison between Computed and Measured Radiation patterns on a Large Aircraft', AGARD Joint IST/SET `Conference on Smart and Adapative Antennas', Chester, UK, April, 2003
  14. J P Ide, K Moore and P R Foster, `A broadband dual-polarised antenna element with matched phase centres', AGARD Joint IST/SET `Conference on Smart and Adapative Antennas', Chester, UK, April, 2003
  15. P R Foster and M Jarrett, ‘Optimisation of a Feed Cluster for a Meteorological Instrument’, ESTEC 26th Conference on Satellite Antenna Modelling and Design Tools, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 2003
  16. P R Foster and Soe Min Tun, `A Small Splashplate Feed Reflector', IEE Publ No 491, ICAP 2003, Vol 1, p87-89
  17. P R Foster and D Gamble, `A Wide-Bandwidth Coupler for a Free-Electron-Maser Amplifier', IEEE Trans on MTT, MTT-51, No 1, 2003, p500-503
  18. S M Tun and P R Foster, `Computer Optimised Wideband Dual-mode Horn', Electronics Letters, Vol 38, no 15, 18th July 2002, p768-9
  19. D Gamble and P R Foster, `A Wide Bandwidth Coupler for a Free Electron Maser Amplifier', IVEC 2002 Third IEEE International Vacuum Electronics Conference, Monterey, USA, April 23-25, 2002
  20. D Gamble, P R Foster and C Wort, `The Use of CVD Diamond as a High Power, Wide Bandwidth Waveguide Window in the Free Electron Maser Amplifier', IVEC 2002 Third IEEE International Vacuum Electronics Conference, Monterey, USA, April 23-25, 2002
  21. D Gamble and P R Foster, `A Wide Bandwidth Coupler for a Free Electron Maser Amplifier', AMEREM 2002 American Electromagnetics, US Naval Academy, Annapolis, USA, 2-7 June, 2002
  22. D Gamble, P R Foster and C Wort, `The Use of CVD Diamond as a High Power, Wide Bandwidth Waveguide Window in the Free Electron Maser Amplifier', AMEREM 2002 American Electromagnetics, US Naval Academy, Annapolis, USA, 2-7 June, 2002
  23. US Patent 6,292,153 dated 18th September 2001, G R Aiello and P R Foster, 'Antenna comprising two wideband notch regions on one coplanar substrate'
  24. US Patent 6,246,377 dated 12th June 2001, G R Aeillo and P R Foster, 'Antenna comprising two separate wideband notch regions on one coplanar substrate'
  25. P R Foster and S M Tun, `Modelling High Gain Reflectors mounted on Structures', IEE Conf No 480, ICAP 2001, Manchester,UK, Vol 1, p356-360
  26. P A Smith, G J Ball, J P Watts and P R Foster, `Microstrip Patch Antenna on Planar and Conical Surfaces', 2nd European Workshop on Conformal Antennas, TNO, April 2001
  27. P R Foster and S M Tun, `Modelling Complex Waveguide Components', ACES Symposium, Montery, 2001, p316-322
  28. T M Macnamara, C M Carnduff and P R Foster, 'Comparison of Measured and Predicted Aircraft Patterns', ACES Symposium, Montery, 2001, p433-440
  29. P R Foster and R A Burberry, `Impedance of a Halfwave Dipole over a Finite Ground Plane' ACES Journal, Spring 2000
  30. P Beasley and P R Foster, ` Wideband Monopulse Reflector System', AP2000, DAVOS
  31. D Gamble and P R Foster, `A High Speed Wideband Scanning Reflector', AP2000, DAVOS.
  32. P R Foster,'CAD for Antenna Systems', ECEJ, Feb 2000, p3-14
  33. P R Foster, D J Browning and Soe Min Tun, `Siting Considerations and Performance Implications for Radar Antennas on Helicopters', International Radar Conference, Brest, France, May 1999
  34. P R Foster and D J Browning, `Dependence of Ground Clutter upon Airborne Radar Performance', Int Radar Symposium, Munich, Sept 1998, p167-176
  35. K Williams, P R Foster and R J Wylde, `A Lens-Horn Combination for Dual-Frequency Use', ESTEC Conf on Mmwave Technology, Helsinki, Finland, 1998
  36. P R Foster, M W S Grigson and C R Wheatley, `D-band IFF for Army Air Defence Systems', RADAR-97, p705-709
  37. P R Foster and D J Browning, `Modelling Antennas on Structures', IEE Colloquium on `High Frequency Simulation in Practise', London, May 1997.
  38. P R Foster, `Antennas and Antenna Measurements to 1.5 GHz', ICAP-97, Edinburgh, 1997 (Invited Lecture)
  39. P R Foster, `Recent Enhancements to ALDAS V3.00', ACES Conference 1997, Monterey, California
  40. P R Foster and Soe Min Tun, `Modelling Waveguide Components using Mode-matching Techniques', Microwave Engineering Europe, April 1996.
  41. P R Foster, `The Region of Application in GTD/UTD', IEE Conference No 420, CEM-96, Bath, p382-395.
  42. G Lemanczyk, P de Maagt and P R Foster, `Problems of Antenna Measurement in the Terahertz Frequency Range', IEE Colloquium on Terahertz Technology, Dec. 1996.
  43. P R Foster, `Antenna Measurements to 1.5 THz', Invited Paper, JINA 96. p273-281
  44. P R Foster and Soe Min Tun, `A Wideband Balun from Coaxial Line to TEM Line', Ninth International Conference on Antennas and Propagation, Eindhoven, Netherlands, April 1995.
  45. P R Foster, `Antenna Installed Performance using Diffraction Theory', ECEJ, October 1994, p247-256.
  46. B Cordery, M Gurd and P R Foster, `Antennas on Structures: A Case Study of an Aircraft', PIERS-94, Noordwijk, Holland.
  47. P R Foster, `Validation of a Diffraction program', 10th ACES Symposium, 1994, Monterey, Vol. 1, p366 - 373.
  48. Browning D J and Foster P R, `PLANAR: A computer program for planar array antenna design', IEE Colloquium on `Validation and Application of Design Tools for Antennas', June 1993, Savoy Place, London.
  49. Foster P R, `Verification and validation of a diffraction program', IEE Colloquium on `Validation and Application of Design Tools for Antennas', June 1993, Savoy Place, London
  50. Soe Min Tun and P R Foster, `Mode matching analysis of small Cassegrainian reflector antennas', IEE Conf No 370, ICAP93, 1993, Vol. 2, p627-630.
  51. Foster P R,'Computer Modelling of Antennas, A comparison of available techniques', IEE Conf No 370, ICAP93,1993, Vol. 2, p755-760 (Invited Paper).
  52. Foster P R and Soe Min Tun, `Design and Test of two TEM horns for ultrawideband use', IEE Colloquium, Jan. 1993, Savoy Place, London.
  53. Foster P R and Wylde R J, `The Effect of Quasi-optics Errors on Reflector Antenna Performance', Trans IEEE, MTT-60, No 6, 1992.
  54. Foster P R,'Reflector Antennas for Ultrawideband Use', Brooklyn Polytechnic, Oct. 1992.
  55. Foster P R, `Geodesics on Convex Surfaces for a UTD/GTD Program', ACES Symposium, March 1992, p404-411.
  56. Foster P R,'Performance of Ultrawideband Antennas', SPIE Conference on Ultrawideband Radar, Los Angeles, January,1992.
  57. P R Foster, C R Yeoman and Soe Min Tun, `Performance of a Small Reflector with a Splashplate Feed', IEE Colloquium on `Reflector Antennas for the 90's', London, May 1992.
  58. Foster, P R, `REFSYN - Computer Program for reflectors shaped in one plane', Microwave Engineering Europe, March/April 1991
  59. Foster P R, `Accuracy and Complexity in Electromagnetic Codes as Applied to a GTD/UTD Program', CEM-91, London 91, p174-177.
  60. V E Sower and P R Foster,'Implementing and Evaluating Advanced Technologies; a Case Study', Production and Inventory Management Journal, Vol. 31, No 4, p. 44-8, 1990.
  61. Geer M and Foster P R, `Some UK Studies on Ultra-wide-band Radar', First Los Alamos Symposium on Ultra-Wide-Band Radar, March 1990.
  62. Foster P R, `Analysis of Low Directivity Antennas on Structures',, p362-369, 6th Annual Conference on Applied Computational Electromagnetics, 1989.
  63. Foster P R,'The Installation of Large-scale EM Programs on Desktops', IEE Colloquium on ' Large Scale Programs for use in Antenna Performance Prediction', Oct. 1989.
  64. D J Browning and P R Foster, `Data Entry and Validation Techniques for Electromagnetic Problems', IEE Colloquium on `Large Scale programs for use in Antenna Performance Prediction', October 1989, London.
  65. P R Foster,'Wideband Antennas for ESM', IEE Colloquium on `Multi-Octave Active and Passive Components and Antennas', May 1989, London.
  66. Ryan J T and Foster P R,'A Low Cost Voice Terminal for Land Applications', IEE Conference No 294 on 'Satellite Systems for Mobile Communications and Navigation', 1988, p227-231.
  67. Foster P R and Browning D J, `A Computer program for handling planar phased arrays', IEE Colloquium No 88/13 on 'Electronically Scanned Antennas', London Jan. 1988.
  68. Foster P R, Olver A D and Parini C, `Limitations in the Determination of Beam Efficiency for Millimetrewave Antennas', 11th ESTEC Workshop on Antenna Measurements, Gothenburg, 1988, p163 - 168.
  69. Foster P R and Tatnall A R L, `Multiband Antenna for AMSU-B',IEE Colloquium on Multiband Antennas, 1987.
  70. Brown A K, Milne K and Foster P R, `A Null-Steering System for Low Cost, Low G/T Maritime Mobile Satellite Communication Earth Station', ICAP85, p300 - 303, Warwick, 1985.
  71. Foster P R and Miller T, `Radiation Patterns of a Quarterwave Monopole on a Finite Ground Plane', ICAP81, p451 - 455, York, 1981.
  72. Foster P R and Williams N, `Antennas for RPVs', Pt 1: Literature Survey and Review, RFTC, June 1978.
  73. Rudge A W and Foster P R, `Low Sidelobe Radar Antennas', Military Microwaves Conference, LONDON 1978.
  74. Williams N and Foster P R, `Millimetric Wave Antennas and Associated Components', Electronic Engineering, April 1978, p77 - 81.
  75. Foster P R, `Atmospheric Effects at 9 mm Wavelength', Trans IEEE on Ant and Prop, AP-17, 1969, p684.