Radio-electric

characteristics

Anne Claire LEPAGE
Teacher-Researcher at
Tlcom ParisTech
Characteristics of
antennas
There are 2 main families of
characteristics for antennas
used in spatial links:
Physical
characteristics
Radio-electric
characteristics
The radio-electric
characteristics will affect the
performances of the spatial
link:
Physical
o The input impedance of
characteristics the antenna
o Its radiation pattern and
its gain
o Its polarization
o its dimensions and its
mass are especially critical
when on board a satellite;
o its mechanical properties:
for example, for a ground
station, its wind resistance,
etc.
o its thermal properties: do
its dimensions vary with
changes in temperature,
especially on board the
satellite, where variations
between -120 and +150 C
can be observed,
depending on whether the CNES / Le Doar Pascal, 1999
sun shines or not? Altimeter antenna of the Jason
satellite, in testing at the CATR
(Compact Antenna Test Range)
1
2

radiated power
Going
Les further
dfinitions
How do we calculate the reflected
power Pr?
The antenna, at the end of the
transmission line, acts as an
impedance Zant, which can be complex,
with respect to the signal. According to
transmission line theory, the reflection
coefficient ant at the impedance Zant
depends on the characteristic
impedance Zc of the transmission line
and is expressed as
Figure 1: The various powers in the transmission chain
thus

1- The input impedance of the antenna
Consider an antenna operating in transmit mode: it
is connected to a generator via a transmission line,
for example a coaxial cable, a waveguide, etc.
What is the objective of a transmitting antenna?
Radiate the whole signal sent by the
generator with as little power loss as
possible!
To this end, we must focus on the reflection
coefficient of the signal as it reaches the input of
the antenna.
Consider Pi, the power emitted by the generator
and carried by the transmission line to the antenna.
Pr is the power reflected by the antenna due to the
phenomenon of mismatch we will see later: this
power is lost. It must therefore be as small as
possible!
Ideally, Pr is zero: the antenna is then
perfectly matched to the transmission line.
Pant is the power fed into the antenna. Pant = Pi -
Pr
Note: Pant is not exactly the same as the power
radiated by the antenna, since there may be
losses in the antenna due to imperfect metallic
conductors, etc.
The radiated power is therefore Pray Pant!
From this we can deduce the power Pr
reflected by the antenna.
NB: ant may be complex.
How can we obtain a zero reflected
power?
When the impedance Zant of the antenna
is equal to the characteristic impedance
Zc of the transmission line, ant = 0!
This is an ideal case! The reflected
power is zero and the full power of the
generator is transmitted to the antenna!
But since ant depends on the
frequency of the signal sent by the
generator, we cannot obtain the
condition ant = 0 over the entire
frequency range of the transmitted
signal but we try to minimize the
reflection by varying the geometry of
the antenna or by adding a matching
circuit at the input to the antenna.
Note that ant can be noted S11.
1
2
Figure 2 : 3D radiation patterns (gain in dB) and pattern in the yOz plane (gain in dB) AC Lepage - 2015
2- The radiation pattern
We have defined the power Pray radiated by the
antenna.
But how is this power distributed in space?
Some antennas, for example parabolic reflectors,
concentrate the power in a more or less broad solid
angle: these antennas are called directional. They
are used on satellites as well as on the ground.
They must be pointed towards the receiver of the
communication.
Omnidirectional antennas, on the other hand,
radiate uniformly in one plane in space. They do
not require specific pointing, and are used for
example in satellite mobile telephony terminals
(and in your smartphone).
Primary lobe
Secondary lobes
The spatial distribution of the power of an
antenna is described by its radiation pattern.
What variable is plotted on a radiation
pattern?
It all depends! Usually directivity or gain!
Let us first define directivity.
The angles (, )
The geometry of an antenna is usually
defined in Cartesian coordinates (x, y,
z). But to describe its radiation pattern,
we use the angles of the spherical
coordinates (, ) as the figure on the
left shows. is referred to the Oz axis
and , in the plane xOy, is referred to
the Ox axis.
3D and 2D patterns
The radiation pattern can be drawn in
3 dimensions in order to visualise the
direction in which the antenna will
radiate most power (in our example, in
the Oz axis).
2D Sectional planes can also be
represented (here, the yOz plane).
The directivity of an antenna in a direction
(, ) is the ratio of the surface power density U(r,
, ) radiated by the antenna in this direction at a
distance r to the power density that would be
radiated by an isotropic antenna radiating the same
total power Pant.
U(r, , ) U(r, , )
D( , ) = = - the 3 dB aperture, 3dB, or half power
U iso (r) Pant / 4 r 2
Directivity is dimensionless.
It is a ratio, usually expressed in decibels:
D(, ) dB = 20 log D(, )
NB: if the directivity is greater than 1 (0 dB) in
some directions, i.e., radiates more than the
isotropic antenna, it is necessarily less than 1 in
other directions, since the total radiated power of
both antennas is the same.
What is the difference between directivity and
gain?
The gain G(, ) in a direction (, ) is a quantity
related to directivity.
It is defined as
G(, ) = D(, )
where is the efficiency of the antenna: it is a
number between 0 and 1 that reflects the losses at
the antenna (it is the difference between Pant et Pray
as seen in chapter 1: Pray = Pant).
The closer to 1, the larger the fraction of the
power fed to the antenna that is radiated, and the
more efficient the antenna!
With a parabolic antenna, a typical value is =
0.65.
Finally, what are the important radiation Definitions
parameters?
Surface power density
- the maximum gain: this is the value that you
have used in the link budget in week 4. Surface power density U(r, , ) is the
power radiated per unit of area (in
W/m) in a direction (, ) at a
distance r from the antenna.
beamwidth: this is the angular range defined on a
2D pattern within which the gain is GdB Gmax, Isotropic antenna
dB 3 or the directivity is G = Gmax/2.
Usually, the lower 3dB, the higher the maximum An isotropic antenna radiates
uniformly in all spatial directions!
gain, but the more advanced the pointing
Such an antenna is impossible, but it is
techniques will have to be! used as a reference.
Its surface power density Uiso(r)
- The level of the side lobes depends only on r and on the total
The higher the gain of the side lobes, the more radiated power Pant as defined in
power the antenna sends in unwanted directions, chapter 1:
Uiso(r) = Pant/(4r) assuming that there
possibly to a satellite next to the target, causing is no loss at the isotropic antenna (P iso,
interference problems a major concern for ant = P iso, ray).
satellite fleet operators. The level of the side
lobes is therefore critical for ground stations!
Immediate application:
According to figure 2:
- The maximum gain is Gmax, dB = 14.1 dB
- The 3 dB aperture is 3dB = 33
- The level of the 1st side lobe is 0.3 dB. There is
therefore a difference of 13.8 dB between the
maximum gain and the gain of the 1st side lobe.
 Going further
The polarization of signals used in a
spatial link

Most signals used in a spatial link are

circularly polarized.

This is because the atmosphere

(ionosphere, ice clouds and rain layers)
Figure 3: Linear polarization and circular polarization can cause a polarization rotation
X. Begaud - 2015 through some angle .
In the case of circular polarization, this

3- Polarization rotation has no effect.

But with linear polarization, the
direction of the field E rotates through
angle . The apparent power of the
signal at the receiving antenna will
An antenna emits an electromagnetic wave then be less than expected even zero
Circular polarization: if = 90.
described by 3 vectors:
In the case of a spatial link, linearly
- k, the wave vector, collinear with the direction of The polarization of a wave is called circular when
polarized signals are used only in the
propagation the electric field E follows a circular helix along Ku band (TV broadcast band) since
- E, the electric field vector its direction of propagation over time. Projecting the effects of the atmosphere are
- H, the magnetic field vector the tip of E on an orthogonal plane (cf. Figure 3) limited and can be corrected at these
produces a circle. This circle can be described as a frequencies (approximately between
function of time in one direction or the other: 10 and 15 GHz).
The polarization of an antenna is actually the
polarization of the wave it emits. circular polarization may be referred to as right-
It is defined by the way in which vector E handed or left-handed.
propagates.
Elliptical polarization:
Linear polarization:
In this case, the tip of the vector E describes an
The polarization of a wave is called linear or plane ellipse when projected on a plane orthogonal to its
when the orientation of the electric field E remains propagation. As in the case of circular polarization,
constant over time along the direction of right-handed and left-handed elliptical polarization
propagation. may be distinguished.