Computational electromagnetics for the SKA-Low prototype station AAVS2

We summarize the activities conducted since 2019 in the numerical electromagnetic analysis of one prototype station of the SKA-Low telescope. Working closely with the SKA Observatory, two teams based in Australia and Italy have collaborated effectively in modeling and analyzing AAVS2, which is the most recent prototype of an SKA-Low station installed in Western Australia. A comprehensive overview of the main electromagnetic parameters at element and array level obtained with two different commercial solvers is presented. Results for scattering parameters, individual element patterns, and station beams are shown; all these fully incorporate mutual coupling effects. Sensitivity of the station is addressed, as the crosspolarization performance. Finally, we also address some lessons learned and their impact on the project. (C) The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.