Theory of Characteristic Modes: Getting More Insight

into Linear Antenna Behavior

Pavel HAZDRA', Pavel HAMOUZ', Milos MAZANEK', Stanislav ZVANOVEC'
Dept. of Electromagnetic Field, Czech Technical University, Technickai 2, 166 27 Praha, Czech Republic

hazdrapgfel.cvut.cz
Abstract. The Theory of Characteristic Modes is a very
useful tool to get physical insight into antenna behavior. It
is possible to easily obtain resonant frequencies, modal
radiation Q or bandwidth, modal currents and modal
radiation patterns. The paper is intended to study well
known linear antennas under this new point of view.

where El is incident electric field intensity, J induced

current density and operator L is defined as:
L(J)= jCoA(J)+VO(J)
(2)
L
where A and 0 are magnetic vector and scalar
potential respectively; operator L has the dimension of
impedance

Keywords

[L(J)]tan = Z(J)

Theory of characteristic modes, modal solution,

method of moments, eigenvalue equation.

1. Introduction

approach is so-called Theory of Characteristic Modes

(hereafter noted as TCM), invented in 70's by Harrington
and Mautz [3]. Although the TCM can provide very usefull
physical information about radiation of a given structure, it
has been quite forgotten for years. Miguel Ferrando and his
team from UPV (Universidad Politecnica de Valencia)
"reinvented" its principles and so far they published a
considerable amount of papers on that topic, see i.e. [4]. In
general, modal solution is solved for set of eigen-currents
which are independent of feeding. Because of the Method
of moments framework all the couplings through the
radiation are taken into account. In this paper we will recall
main TCM principles, our own TCM tool will be
introduced and examples of linear antenna analysis will be
given.

1-4244-0822-9/07/$20.00 )2007 IEEE.

equation has the following form

(weigheted eigenvalue

[x]J n = in [R]J n

(4)

The above mentioned equation could be solved i.e. by

usingstandardmethodsinMatlab(eigfunction).
Modal solution has the form of (theoretically) infinite
number of real eigencurrents Jn and their associated
eigenvalues 4

2.1 TCM - practical implementation

We have developed "TCM tool" under Matlab which
is so far able to analyze simple wire and patch structures.
Main "MoM engine" has been taken from Makarov's MoM
codes [5], which were further modified. Main advantages
of Makarov routines are as follows:

*
*

Known triangular meshing schemes (Delaunay

triangulation) are used
Direct access to [Z] matrix is possible

ModesTyiaprcswhnungteCMoli:

The main framework for the TCM is well-know

Method of Moments (MoM) [5], EFIE (Electric Field
Inega Eqain is cosdrd
*

[L(J)- Ei Ian = O

So far, this is the standard EFIE integral equation

which is then solved by the MoM method at given
frequency, resulting in impedance matrix [Z]=[R]+j[X].
The characteristic modes are afterwards calculated by

modal decomposition of the [Z] matrix, the operator matrix

Modal (eigen) solutions are being widely used in

many physical areas (i.e. vibration of bridges, solving of
acoustic resonators etc.). Cavity model for microstrip patch
antennas introduces an antenna example [1]. Since cavity
model is very fast, some simplifications are introduced, i.e.
no internal coupling is accounted in [2]. Very general

2. Theory of Characteristic

(3)

(1)

Preprocessing
of
given
structure
drawing/importing into Femlab or PDE tool,
~~~~~~~~~creatingmesh in i.e. Femlab, exporting mesh into

Matlab workspace

*
*

Calculating [Z] matrix using Makarov code for

desired set of frequencies as [Z] is frequency
. .
dependent

Solving the operator matrix equation (4) to

decompose [Z] into eigencurrents Jn and
eigennumbers in
Postprocessing the results (in, Jn, farfields)

2.2 TCM - physical properties

Characteristic currents Jn = (Jnx, Jny, Jn)
* Are defined as the eigenfunctions of a weighted
eigenvalue equation (4)
*

Are real or equiphasal over the surface on which

they exist

*
*

Form an orthogonal set over this surface

*
*

excitation coefficient
Vn( issad
fw
(E stands for an incident
~~~~~~~~~~~feeding
where
f

which depends on
wave

structure):

Vn =

E') =

exciting the

EdS

(7)

and the product Vn J n in (6) models the coupling between

the excitation and the nth mode and determines which
modes will be excited.
Note: this procedure is similar to solving of fields in
cavities by the Fourier method.

3.

Examples

We have analyzed several simple antenna structures

to show the facilities of the presented TCM. Detailed
description follows below.

Depend only on shape and size of the given

structure and are independent of any specific
source of excitation.

3.1

Characteristic numbers ~
Are real eigenvalues associated to characteristic
modes that determine the relative dominance of
the mode

antenna with overall length 21 = 60mm and lying in XY

plane. Variation of eigenvalues and characteristic angles
with frequency is shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, respectively.
It is clearly seen that first resonance occurs at 2.5GHz

These eigenvalues bring information about

resonance, bandwith, radiation properties

(radiation Q)
* in = 0.. mode Jn is at resonance
* in 0 .. mode Jn has a capacitive contributiono
* A">0... mode Jn has a inductive contribution
* The closer to zero an eigenvalue is, the more
s
resonant the associated characteristic current is
Instead of 4n, so-called characteristic angle a1n
constitute an alternative to represent the variation of
eigenvalues with frequency:
a = 180

-tan-r(in)

(5)

For characteristic angle representation, the resonance

occur when a1,= 1800. Furtermore, the slope of an at 1800
determines the radiation Q of the mode.
Once characteristic currents and numbers are
calculated and feeding is introduced, one is able to make
modal expansion of the total current. In other words, total
current is generally a linear combination of characteristic
currents:
(6)
____
J = E 1 + j, '

Dipole

First example introduces a simple thin strip dipole

where the dipole has length 21

are just its multiplications.

2/2. The other resonances

10

mode 2

Amode

-20

-30

mode 1

mode2

-50

f [GHz]

- mode 4

mode

109

Fig. 1. Dipole - variation of eigenvalues with frequency.

Resonance of a given mode n occurs when A, passes
zero.

Fig. 3 shows first three characteristic modes -

eigencurrents which resonate at frequencies 2.5, 5.1 and

7.9 GHz. It is easy to see how the number of halfwavelengths increases with higher modes. Once the
characteristic currents are known, related radiation patterns
be easily calculated (Fig. 4).
~~~~~~~~could

240

0<;S~ ~204
-J4

260

Fig. 5. Franklin collinear antenna.

mode 3

'180

- mode 4

160L

140

X
X

120

-r
______________________________________

5
6
f [GHz]

J2

iJ2

iJ2

mode 1
____mode 2

200

100

1k4

220-

I4

)J4

The fundamental mode of the Franklin antenna is not

very interesting - its just a "dipole" mode with one 1/2
current path over all the antenna length. More interesting
mode is the one "collinear" described above (mode #5),
leading to higher (-7 dBi) directivity, compared to 1/2
dipole. From the characteristic angle behavior, it could be
Xseen that mode #5 resonates at frequency 2.5GHz (Fig. 5).
9

x 10

Fig. 2. Dipole - variation of characteristic angles with

frequency. Resonance of a given mode n occurs when (In
passes 180.

240
220

200

260

mode l

2
~~~~~~~~~~~mode

____

mode 3
mode 4

---

_X

-mode 5

220 -- ---

------mode6~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~oe
~~~~~~~

N-

%%

~~~~mode 7

IlC

model

160

mode 2

140

mode 3

L.-

120

21 = 60mr-

1~ ~ ~ 0

2V~~~~~~Omm

Fig. 3. Dipole - first three characteristic currents.

<<

1.5

S
2.5

f [GHz]

3.5

4.5

109

Fig. 5. Franklin antenna - characteristic angles variation with

frequency.

Fig. 6 shows characteristic current of mode #5,

-tOconfirming the "collinear" behavior. Corresponding 3D
radiation
20
q;
_1||E; 120 pattern (see Fig. 7, antenna is placed in XY
- plane) exhibits quite directive pattern and is in accordance
30.......
with the source current distribution.
30< _ t' -40

400tO
_0 | |30]| | _

20

-201

44090000

< 20

-20

E 40

::;0|50,<lS

*i

mod23
fm
=79 GHz

Fig.4.Dipole

-20

ki *

3D raiaio ptten for moe 1 (to let) 2

200,

So-calledFranklin antena is a

V2 V-

e .

dipole where (when lengths and operating frequency are

are "twisted" into )14 opposite paths, thus cancelling each

other. Only )12 segments with in-phase currents contribute

to radiation (see Fig. 5).

rt

-4

Fig. 7. Franklin antenna at mode #5 3D radiation pattern.

of mr

sru cture

3.3 The Bow-tie dipole

Conclusion

Bow-tie dipole presents a broadband modification of

a classical thin dipole. Our example (lying again in XY
plane) has 21 = 60mm, thus the length is the same as dipole
in section 3.1. According to the TCM analysis,
fundamental mode resonates at 1.7GHz (thin dipole of the
same length at 2.5GHz) while there's a wide gap between
the mode #1 and the higher ones. This explains wider
bandwith (Fig. 8) when compared to dipole (Fig. 2).
Eigencurrent of mode #1 is in Fig. 9, corresponding
radiation pattern in Fig. 10.

In this paper we have studied properties of some

linear antennas under the Theory of characteristic modes
point of view. This theory, although simple, provides very
useful physical view on function of radiating structures.
Further improvements (better geometry import, structure
parametrization, calculating co- and cross- polar
components of the radiated fields, connection with
optimalization loop) of the tool are currently in progress.

Acknowledgements
[

260
240

-4

220
200
,F180

'
0

1 80-

140

100

~mode 1

mode5

mode 2
--_-_- mode
3

160

120

Authors would like to thank to Marta Cabedo, Eva

Antonino from UPV and Dr. Jaroslav Lacik from VUT
Brno for their valuable discussion on developing of the
TCM tool. This research has been supported by the
Antenna Centre of Excellence and by the Czech ministry of
Education Youth and Sports in the ftamework of the
Y uh
S ot
rm w r
project Research in the Area of Prospective Information
andNavigation Technologies MSM 6840770014.

140

_mode

References

1.5

i-

2.5

Fig. 8. Bow-tie dipole

frequency.

f [GHz]

3.5

- [1]= = BAHL I., BHARTIA, P., GARG, R.: Microstrip Antenna Design

Handbook, Artech House, 2001

4.5
x10

[2] HAZDRA, P., MAZANEK, M.: The Miniature Fractal Patch

Antenna. In Radioelektronika 2005 - Conference Proceedings. Brno:
VUT FEI, Ustav radioelektroniky, 2005, s. 215-218.

characteristic angles variation with

<

[3] HARRINGTON, R. F., MAUTZ, J. R.: Theory of characteristic

modes for conducting bodies," IEEE Trans. AP., vol. AP-19, no. 5,
pp. 622-628, Sept. 1971.

[4] CABEDO, M., ANTONINO, E., VALERO, A., FERRANDO, M.:

Optimization of the polarization of Reflectarrays using Characteristic

Modes 2004 IEEE AP-S International Symposium, Monterey,
California, 2004.

[5] MAKAROV, S. N.: Antenna and EM Modeling with Matlab, Wiley,

Fig. 9. Bow-tie dipole - characteristic current of mode #1.
model

40

f =17 GHz

50

Fig. 10. Bow-te antenna at mde # 1 - 3D raiation pattern

Fig.

Bow-tie antenna atmode#13Dradiationpattern.-20

100.0