Antenna Theory and Fundamentals

Polarization
The orientation of Electric field component of an electromagnetic wave describes the
Polarization of the wave.
Imagine an EM wave travelling along +Z direction (out of the page) and its electric field oriented
along y-direction and magnetic field along x-direction. The electric field component is given by
E y Eoy Sin (t   z ) (1)
This wave is said to be linearly polarized along y-direction (vertical direction)

EM wave linearly polarized along y direction

In a general case, an EM wave in free space travelling along z-direction has electric field
components both in x-direction and y-direction. Assuming that the phase difference between the
two electric field components is δ, then total electric field of wave is given by
ET  Eox Sin ( t   z )  Eoy Sin ( t   z   ) (2)
Depending on the state of Eox , Eoy and δ ; various cases of wave polarization arise.
These have been presented in the tabular form as Polarization Table given below;
 Antenna Theory and Fundamentals

Polarization Table
S. No Conditions Pictorial Representation
1 Eox  0
Eoy  0 y
ET  Eox Sin ( t   z )
Wave is linearly polarized along
horizontal direction.
x

2 Eox  0
Eoy  0 y
ET  Eoy Sin ( t   z ) x

Wave is linearly polarized along vertical

direction.
x

3 Eox  0
Eoy  0 y
 0
ET  Eox Sin ( t   z )  Eoy Sin ( t   z )
Wave is linearly polarized along a τ
direction which makes angle τ with x
horizontal direction.
E
  tan 1 oy
Eox
 Antenna Theory and Fundamentals

S. No Conditions Pictorial Representation

4 Eox  0
Eoy  0 y
 
ET  Eox Sin ( t   z )  Eoy Sin ( t   z )
τ

Wave is linearly polarized along a x

direction which makes angle τ with
horizontal direction.
E
    tan 1 oy
Eox
5 Eox  0
Eoy  0 y
x
Eox  Eoy

 
2
ET  Eox Sin ( t   z )  EoyCos ( t   z ) x

As per IEEE standards the wave is

circularly left polarized
[As per classical definition the wave is
circularly right polarized]

6 Eox  0
Eoy  0
y
Eox  Eoy

 
2
ET  Eox Sin ( t   z )  EoyCos ( t   z )
x
As per IEEE standards the wave is
circularly right polarized
[As per classical definition the wave is
circularly left polarized]
 Antenna Theory and Fundamentals

S. No Conditions Pictorial Representation

7 Eox  0
Eoy  0 y
x
Eox  Eoy

 
2
ET  Eox Sin ( t   z )  EoyCos ( t   z )
x
As per IEEE standards the wave is
elliptically left polarized
Semi Major axis = Eoy
Semi Minor axis = Eox
[As per classical definition the wave is
elliptically right polarized]
8 Eox  0
Eoy  0
y
Eox  Eoy

 
2
ET  Eox Sin ( t   z )  EoyCos ( t   z )
x
As per IEEE standards the wave is
elliptically left polarized
Semi Major axis = Eox
Semi Minor axis = Eoy
[As per classical definition the wave is
elliptically right polarized]
9 Eox  0 and Eoy  0 y
Eox  Eoy

 
2
ET  Eox Sin ( t   z )  EoyCos ( t   z )
x
As per IEEE standards the wave is
elliptically right polarized
Semi Major axis = Eoy
Semi Minor axis = Eox
[As per classical definition the wave is
elliptically left polarized]
 Antenna Theory and Fundamentals

S. No Conditions Pictorial Representation

10 Eox  0 And Eoy  0
Eox  Eoy y

 
2
ET  Eox Sin ( t   z )  EoyCos ( t   z )
As per IEEE standards the wave is x
elliptically right polarized
Semi Major axis = Eox
Semi Minor axis = Eoy
[As per classical definition the wave is
elliptically left polarized]

11 Eox  0 And Eoy  0

 y
0  
2
ET  Eox Sin ( t   z )  Eoy Sin ( t   z   )
As per IEEE standards the wave is
τ
elliptically left polarized
[As per classical definition the wave is x
elliptically right polarized]
Major axis of the ellipse is titled with
horizontal axis at an angle τ.
The locus of ellipse is described by
E x2 2 E x E y Cos  E y
2

2
  2  Sin 2 
E1 E1 E2 E2
 Antenna Theory and Fundamentals

12 Eox  0 And Eoy  0 y


0   
2
ET  Eox Sin ( t   z )  Eoy Sin ( t   z   )
τ
As per IEEE standards the wave is
elliptically right polarized x
[As per classical definition the wave is
elliptically left polarized]
Major axis of the ellipse is titled with
horizontal axis at an angle τ.
The locus of ellipse is described by
E x2 2 E x E y Cos  E y
2

  2  Sin 2 
E12 E1 E2 E2
 Antenna Theory and Fundamentals

Why polarization is important for Antenna? (Important To Remember)

Every incoming electromagnetic wave has any one of the polarization states discussed in
polarization Table above.
An antenna also has a polarization state. The polarization state of an antenna is defined as the
polarization state of the wave radiated by the antenna when it is transmitting.
As already discussed an antenna is a reciprocal device and is used for reception as well. The
response of receiving antenna is maximum when polarization state of incoming wave and
polarization state of antenna is matching.
If Mw is polarization state of Wave and MA is polarization state of antenna.
If M W M A  0 , the antenna is matched to the wave (polarization state of wave same as that of the
antenna) and the response is maximized.
If M W M A  180 o , the response is zero. This can occur, for example, if the wave is linearly
polarized in the y direction while the antenna is linearly polarized in the x direction; or if the wave
is left circularly polarized while the antenna is right circularly polarized.
More generally we may say that an antenna is blind to a wave of opposite (or antipodal)
polarization state.
Polarization Factor:
A polarization matching factor F (for power) is given by
M M
F  Cos 2 W A (3)
2
Thus, for a perfect match the match angle M W M A  0 and F = 1 (Polarization states of wave and
antenna are the same).
For a complete mismatch, the match angle M W M A 180 o and F = 0. (Polarization states of wave
and antenna are antipodal or opposite).
M Ma
For linear polarization,  
2
And (16) reduces to F  Cos 2  (4)
Where ∆τ = difference between the tilt angles of wave and antenna.
In the above discussion we have assumed a completely polarized wave, that is, one where Ex, Ey
and δ are constants. In an unpolarized wave they are not. Such a wave results when the vertical
component is produced by one noise generator and the horizontal component by a different noise
generator. Most cosmic radio sources are unpolarized and can be received equally well with an
antenna of any polarization. If the wave is completely unpolarized, F= ½ regardless of the state of
polarization of the antenna.
 Antenna Theory and Fundamentals

Electric Scalar and Magnetic Vector Potentials

A static electric charge produces electric scalar potential. The electric scalar potential V at a point
P lying R units away from the source charge is given by
q
V (1)
4  R
If q is distributed over a volume with charge density ρv then
 dv
V  v (2)
v
4  R
A moving charge constitutes electric current. An electric current produces a magnetic field. The
magnetic field produced at a point P which is R units away from moving charge (electric current)
 J  ur
4  v R 2
is given by B dv (3)

If F is a vector quantity then

.(  F )  0
Also .B  0
Assume B  A
Then . B  .(  A)  0
The vector quantity A is called magnetic vector potential at point P due to the magnetic field
produced at P by moving charges (electric current). The A is given by
J
A  dv (4)
v
4  R
Retarded Electric scalar and Magnetic Vector potentials
Time varying Electric and Magnetic fields are governed by Maxwell’s curl equations.
The Maxwell’s curl equation for time varying electric fields state
B
 E  
t
B
Or  E  0
t

Or   E  (  A)  0
t

Or   ( E  A)  0
t

Or ( E  A)    V
t

Or E   V  A
t
Taking divergence of this equation
 Antenna Theory and Fundamentals


. E    2 V (. A ) (5)
t
Again Maxwell’s curl equation for time varying magnetic fields states that
𝜕
∇ × 𝐻 = 𝐽 + 𝜕𝑡 𝐷
𝜕
Or ∇ × 𝐵 = 𝜇𝐽 + 𝜇𝜖 𝜕𝑡 𝐸
𝜕 𝜕
Or ∇ × ∇ × 𝐴 = 𝜇𝐽 + 𝜇𝜖 𝜕𝑡 (−∇𝑉 − 𝜕𝑡 𝐴)
𝜕 𝜕2
Or ∇(∇. 𝐴) − ∇2 𝐴 = 𝜇𝐽 − 𝜇𝜖 𝜕𝑡 (∇𝑉) − 𝜇𝜖 𝜕𝑡 2 𝐴 (6)
The electric scalar potential V and magnetic vector potential A are related by the Lorentz’s
𝜕
condition as ∇. 𝐴 = −𝜇𝜖 𝜕𝑡 𝑉 (7)
Hence from (5), (6) and (7) we get
𝜕2 𝜕2 𝜌
∇2 𝐴 − 𝜇𝜖 2 𝐴 = µ𝐽 And
∇2 𝑉 − 𝜇𝜖 𝑉=
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡 2 𝜀
𝜕2 1 2
Or 𝐴 − 𝜇𝜖 ∇ 𝐴−= −𝐽/𝜀 (8)
𝜕𝑡 2
𝜕2 1 𝜌
Also 𝑉 − 𝜇𝜖 ∇2 𝑉 = − 𝜇𝜀2 (9)
𝜕𝑡 2
The (8) and (9) represent wave equations in three dimensional space and their solutions are
 J 
A  dv (10)
v
4  R
[ v ]
V  dv (11)
v
4  R
The term [ρv] (or [J]) means that the time t in ρv (x, y, z, t) [or J(x, y, z, t)] is replaced by the
retarded time t1 given by
𝑅
𝑡1 = 𝑡 − 𝑢 (12)
Where R is the distance of the observation point P(x1, y1, z1) from the source point O(x, y, z) and
u is the velocity of wave propagation.
In free space, u = c = 3 x108 m/s; the speed of light in vacuum. Potentials V and A are, respectively,
called the retarded electric scalar potential and the retarded magnetic vector potential.