Considering a linear sparse array with the constraints of the array aperture

the minimum and the maximum element spacing

an improved genetic algorithm(IGA)for the element position synthesis is proposed to reduce the peak sidelobe level(PSLL)of the array.In order to avoid the infeasible solution during the optimization

a special vector mapping between the element spaces and their gene coding is utilized by the IGA.Then the strong constrained optimization problem is transformed to an optimization problem with only upper and lower limit

and the infeasible solution is naturally avoided.The computational cost of the IGA can be far less than that of a recently reported modified real genetic algorithm.And the efficiency and the robustness of the IGA have been illustrated clearly from the simulations.