1/4 dB (approximately 0.

2 dB) and a maximum

loss of s l i g h t l yl e s st h a n 2 dB (approximately
1 dBj. The secondexample point q on t h e
c h a r t , i s f o r a 1 inearly polarized antenna receiv-
ing a LHEP wave w i t h 4 d6 a x i a lr a t i o .I ft h e
p o l a r i z a t i o n e l l i p s e has i t s majoraxisaligned
with the l i n e a r p o l a r i z a t i o n , a minimum l o s s of
about1.5 dB r e s u l t s ; i f t h e e l l i p s e i s perpen-
333 dicular t o the l i n e a r p o l a r i z a t i o n , a
maximum l o s s of about5.5 dB occurs. T h u s t h e
p o l a r i z a t i o n mismatch loss will vary between
1.5 and 5.5 dB a s t h e l i n e a r a n t e n n a i s r o t a t e d
about i t s b o r e s i g h t a x i s .
This i s the f i r s t o f a new reglilar feature
ofthe AP-S NEWSLETTER, to provide our members Calculation P o l a r i z a t i o n Mismatch Loss
withusefulnomographs, design a i d s , computer
programs, and otherpracticalinformation aimed The p o l a r i z a t i o n mismatch l o s s f o r anyangular
a t making ourantenna and propagationengineers alignment e between majoraxesofthepolarization
more productive. e l l i s s can be calculatedusingthefollowing equa-
tiony27:
Associate Editor Hal Schrank welcomes your
comments and s o l i c i t s y o u r i d e a s f o r future pages 2p,,,pn cos
t o this "Notebook".

where
POLARIZATION
MISMATCH
LOSS
(rN l)/(r,d 1 ) the c i r c u l a rp o l a r i z .
I ft h ep o l a r i z a t i o ni n c i d e n t upon an antenna is ratio the incident
d i f f e r e n t from t h e p o l a r i z a t i o n which that antenna via v e
would r a d i a t e , t h e r e i s a p o l a r i z a t i o n mismatch l o s s .
T h i s f i r s t " p a g e " of t h e Antenna Designer's Notebook pA (rA l)/(rA 1 ) the c i r c u l a rp o l a r i z .
provides an easytouse nomograph fordeterminingthe ratioofthereceiving
maximum/minimum valuesof this p o l a r i z a t i o n mismatch antenna
loss. Alsoprovided i s an equation fromwhich
more complete and exact values can be c a l c u l a t e d . and
rw axial ratio of incident wave (e
i n dB)
The Ludwig Chart
rA axialratio receivingantenna (X& i n dB
There a r e numerous c h a r t s and nomographs i n the
literatureforfindingpolarization mismatch loss note:Axial ratio negative f o r RHEP, p o s i t i v e f o r
from t h e two p o l a r i z a t i o n s t a t e s , the s t a t e af the LHEP.
i n c i d e n t ( t r a n s m i t t e d ) wave and t h e s t a t e of t h e
receivingantenna. Remember t h a tt h ep o l a r i z a t i o n Example (point onLudwig c h a r t )
s t a t e of a receivinoantenna i s defined as the
p o l a r i z a t i o n i t would r a d i a t e a s a t r a n s m i t t i n g RHEP, a x i a l r a t i o o f 4 dB
antenna. rA antilog (4/20) -1.585
The Ludwig' c h a r t shown opposite i s ingenious PA (-0.585)/(-2.585) 0.2263
i n i t s c l a r i t y and s i m p l i c i t y ofuse. The abscissa
represents the polarization state of the receiving Incident RHEP, a x i a lr a t i oo f 8 dB
antenna,expressed i n termsofaxialratio ( i n dB) rW antilog -2.512
a n ds e n s e( r i g h to rl e f th a n d ) . The centerofthe
s c a l e (marked go j represents 1i near polarization (-1.512)/(-3.512) 0.4305
and theends (marked representthe two pure
c i r c u l a r p o l a r i z a t i o n s ( l e f t c i r c u l a r and r i g h t Minimum
c i r c u l a r , marked LCP and RCP). An i d e n t i c a ls c a l e Lass ( e l l i p s ea sl i g n e d , e
f o rt h eo r d i n a t er e p r e s e n t st h ep o l a r i z a t i o ns t a t e cos2s 1.0)
of the incidentortransmitted wave. The two s e t s
ofdiagonallinesarecontours of mismatch l o s s
i n dB. The solidcontoursarethe minimum l o s s 1+( .2263)2( .4305)2+2( .2263)( .4305)
which occurs when t h e two p o l a r i z a t i o n s e l l i p s e s r (dB)=lO log
have their majoraxesaligned,whilethedashed Min 10 .22632)
(1 .43052)
contours are the maximum l o s s which occurs when
t h e majoraxesaremutuallyperpendicular.
Two exam les a r e shown. The f i r s t i s f o r
an i n c i d e k s m i t t e d ) wave which i s r i g h t
hand e l l i p t i c a l l y p o l a r i z e d (RHEP) with an axial -0.15 dB (comparewith 0.2 dB from c h a r t )
ratio 8 dB, and a receivingantenna which i s
a l s o RHEP, b u t with a 4 dB a x i a lr a t i o . The Maximum
i n t e r s e c t i o n P of the two p o l a r i z a t i o n s t a t e s Loss (ellipses perpendicular, e
i n d i c a t e s a minimum l o s s of s l i g h t l y l e s s t h a n cos 28

Authorized licensd use limted to: IE Xplore. Downlade on May 10,2 at 19:06 UTC from IE Xplore. Restricon aply.
 .4305)"2(
lo

[0.65381
10
July p.

LOSS, DB

LOSS, DB

OF

Authorized licensd use limted to: IE Xplore. Downlade on May 10,2 at 19:06 UTC from IE Xplore. Restricon aply.