Antenna polarization

The plane wave polarization is defined by the figure of the instantaneous electirc field traced at
fixed observation point. The common encountered polarizations are:

1- Vertical linear.
2- Horizontal linear.
3- Right-hand circular.
4- Left-hand circular.
5- Right-hand elliptical.
6- Left-hand elliptical.

The antenna polarization in a given direction is defined as the polarization of the wave radiated in the
that direction . The polarization takes the figure of any plane wave polarization, and their rotation by
some arbitrary angle.

Polarization loss factor

Incident wave polarization

Ei =ai E i
⃗

Antenna polarization

Ea =aa Ea
⃗

Polarization loss factor (PLF)

2 2
PLF=|ai . aa| =|cos φ p|

General polarization ellipse

The polarization of the plane wave in general is defined by the component of the relative positions of
the general polarization ellipse .

The electric field vector associated with a +z-directed plane wave is defined in general phasor
form as E =( E x ax + E y a y ) e− jkz
⃗

Where E x and E y are complex phasors which are defined in terms of magnitude and phase.

E x =E x 0 e j ∅ x
E y =E y 0 e j ∅ y

The instantaneous components of the electric field are found by multiplying the phasor components by
e jwt and taking the real part .
 Ԑ x ( Z ,t )=E x 0 cos ( ωt−kz+ ∅ x )
Ԑ y ( Z ,t )=E y0 cos ( ωt−kz + ∅ y )

Difference