New Method Enhances Analysis of Large Antenna Arrays

A new method for analyzing mutual coupling effects in large, irregular antenna arrays has been introduced by researchers Quentin Gueuning, Eloy de Lera Acedo, Anthony Keith Brown, Christophe Craeye, and Oscar O'Hara. The paper, titled "A Broadband Multipole Method for Accelerated Mutual Coupling Analysis of Large Irregular Arrays Including Rotated Antennas," was submitted to arXiv on August 30, 2024.

This numerical method builds upon the established Method of Moments (MoM) and incorporates a Macro Basis Function (MBF) approach. This allows for rapid direct inversion of the MoM impedance matrix, which is crucial for analyzing complex antenna configurations. The authors propose an extension of the Steepest-Descent Multipole expansion to enhance the speed and stability of the matrix filling process across a wide bandwidth.

One of the significant advantages of this method is its suitability for quasi-planar problems and its low pre-processing costs associated with antenna patterns. The technique also accommodates arrays with rotated antennas, adding flexibility to its application. Notably, simulations of irregular arrays consisting of 256 complex log-periodic antennas can be completed in approximately 10 minutes per frequency point on standard laptop hardware, with an additional minute required for each new layout.

The findings of this research could have substantial implications for the design and analysis of advanced antenna systems, particularly in fields such as telecommunications and astrophysics, where efficient and accurate modeling of antenna interactions is critical. The full paper can be accessed at arXiv:2409.00153.