3. R. C. Johnson and H.

Jasik, Antenna Engineering Handbook,

, Second Edition, New York, McGraw-Hill, 1984, pp. 4-7,443.

4. G. H. Brown and 0. M. Woodward Jr., Experimentally Deter-

soot mined Impedance Characteristics of Cylindrical Antennas, Pro-

ceedings of the IRE, 33, April 1945, pp. 257-262.

Parameters of a Multiple-Arm
100 500 900
meqysncy lW1.z)
1300 1700
Spiral Antenna from Single-Arm
Figure Sa. The antenna resistance as a function of frequency Measurements
(curve 1). Curve 2 is the impedance of an equivalent monopole
antenna, 106.5 mm in length, multiplied by a factor of two,
measured when mounted over a circular ground plane 100 cm Tom Milligan
in diameter. Curve 3 was obtained by interpolating the curves Milligan & Associates, Inc.
for l / d = 30 and l/d = 50 in reference 131, and by multiplying 8204 West Polk Place
the values by two. Littleton, CO 80123
Tel: +1 (303) 977-7268
Fax: +1 (303) 977-8853
500
I E-mail: Tmilligan@compuserve.com

1. Abstract

Multiple-arm spiral antennas, generally with four or more

8 arms, can be fed in multiple modes that produce different antenna
g -1000 patterns. The patterns and S parameters of the antenna, operating in
d different modes, can be found by combining a weighted sum of
measurements made on individual arms. The frequency range of
-1500 good efficiency can be determined from S-parameter measure-
ments before the antenna pattems and gain are measured. Individ-
__._
100
~ ~
-500 900 1300 1700
ual arm measurements isolate construction problems that would be
masked by a feed network.
P L e q u e n ~ y IMHz)

Figure Sb. The antenna reactance as a function of frequency 2. Introduction [l,21

(curve 1). Curves 2 and 3 are the reactances for the equivalent
monopole antenna and as obtained from reference 131, per Fig-
ure Sa.
7. Conclusions
The input impedance of symmetrical antennas can be directly
measured using the procedures and equipment for standard two-
port S parameters. Neither a balun device, nor a large ground
plane, are required. Accordingly, the imperfections normally intro-
duced by both these elements are eliminated, and the bandwidth
can be arbitrarily large.
8. References
Before a spiral antenna is connected to a feed network, most
of its characteristics can be determined from measurements made
on single arms. These measurements greatly increase our knowl-
edge of the operation of the antenna, and can be used to improve it,
because problems are isolated. Figure 1 illustrates the face of an
eight-arm spiral antenna. Each arm of the antenna has been con-
nected to coax transmission lines, both on the inside and outside
ends. The wrap of the spiral in Figure 1 radiates right-hand circular
(RHC) polarization when fed from the center, and LHC polariza-
tion when fed from the outside. The antenna can radiate LHC
polarization for the inner feeds as the antenna ports, when the
feeding signals are improperly phased, or when signals reflect from
the outer ends of the spiral. A feed network splits the power into
the arms with proper phases and equal amplitudes to produce the
various modes of radiation. This feed network is sometimes
referred to as a beam-former, and provides a separate port for each
mode.

1. J. Fitzpatrick, Error Models for Systems Measurements,
Microwave Journal, 21, May 1978.
2. G. D. Vendelin, A. M. Pavis, H. L. Rohde, Microwave Circuit
Design using Linear and Nonlinear Techniques, New York, Wiley,
1990, p. 16.
This article shows how to combine measurements made on
individual arms of the spiral to find the pattems and impedance
properties, when it is operating in various modes. The analysis
considers the spiral antenna as an array, and uses the active pattem
of a single arm. We sum the pattems of the individual arms,
weighted by the mode coefficients, to find the pattem in a given

IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, Vol. 40, No. 6,December 1998 65
mode. In a similar manner, the active impedance of the spiral is
found from a combination of the input reflection and the weighted
sum of the mutual coupling between the arms.

We can use either measurements made on the individual

arms; or measure a single arm, assume the antenna is symmetrical,
and use array theory to find the response of the multiple-arm
antenna when fed with a beam-former feed network. This tech-
nique eliminates the need to build the feed network during initial
stages of development, and isolates construction problems. Fur-
thermore, we can evaluate every possible spiral-antenna mode
from the single-arm measurements.

,-.

Figure 3. The pattern of a Mode = 2 spiral antenna mounted

over an absorber-filled cavity, RHC polarization.

.--.
\ ,

Figure 1. An eight-arm spiral, with each arm fed from a coax-

ial cable on the inside and outside.

Figure 4. The pattern of a Mode = 3 spiral antenna mounted

over an absorber-filled cavity, RHC polarization.

3. Spiral Modes

The output signals of an N-port beam-former can be decom-

Figure 2. The pattern of a Mode=1 spiral antenna mounted
over an absorber-filled cavity, RHC polarization.
posed into N modes that correspond to N modes of spiral-antenna
radiation. The spiral modes have equal amplitudes, and a linear
progression of phase on the arms. The progression of phase is
given by Mode*$, where $ is the CCW (counter-clockwise)
rotation around the spiral arms when looking at the face. Mode is
an integer, with Mode = 1 corresponding to RHC polarization.
Figures 2, 3, and 4 show the radiation pattems of the three RHC
modes for an eight-arm spiral, over an absorber-loaded cavity,
when fed by a perfect beam-former. Although the outputs of the
beam-former can be decomposed into only N modes, the spiral

66 IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, Vol. 40, No. 6, December 1998
antenna can radiate any number of modes, for a given set of feed-
ing coefficients. The finite value of cross-polarization-the dashed
curve in the figures-radiated in the forward hemisphere of the pat-
tern is caused by extra modes radiated by the antenna. If we rotate
the spiral CCW about its axis by 4, the radiation phase will
change linearly by -Mode*q5, when radiating in only a single
mode. Imperfections in the construction of the spiral or the imped-
ance mismatches cause the undesired modes of radiation. These
modes are a Fourier-series expansion of the radiation from the spi-
ral antenna that uses the spiral modes as the basis functions.
4. Spiral-mode feeding coefficients
An Nurm-arm spiral can be fed with equal power into the
arms in N,, possible modes, while the actual spiral, when fed
from a beam-former, can radiate any number of modes. An arbi-
trary feeding set of amplitudes and phases on the arms can be
decomposed into a sum of these orthogonal modes. The feeding
coefficient on arm N, for the various modes, is given by
exp[-j2&ode( N - l)/Nurm]
VN = , (1)
where the arms are numbered CCW when looking at the spiral face
(Figure 1). The normalized power into each arm is VNVG,because
V, is divided by the square root of the number of arms. Mode = 1
corresponds to RHC polarization, which has its pattem-peak
broadside to the spiral face, as shown in Figure 2. Table 1 gives the
excitation phases for the various modes of a four-arm antenna.
Mode 2 can be either RHC or LHC polarization, and will depend
on the wrap direction of a spiral.
Multiple-arm antennas can radiate different patterns by
changing the excitations of the arms. Spirals radiate circularly
polarized waves, with a far-field-pattem phase that changes line-
arly when the antenna is rotated about the spiral axis. The phase
rotation is given by -Mode q5 for a rotation 4 (CCW) about the
spiral axis. The feed phases for an eight-arm spiral antenna are
given in Table 2.
5. Array analysis of spiral
Consider a normal array, where the elements are spaced on
some grid. When each antenna radiates, part of its radiation is
received by nearby elements. The antennas that receive this power
absorb part of it and re-radiate the rest. The power received by the
antennas changes the effective distribution in the array. When the
antenna elements can only be excited in a few modes, as is the case
for small multi-arm antennas, the net effect is to change the
amplitude and phase distribution on the array. Two approaches can
be used to predict this effect.
A mutual-coupling matrix relates the excitations at the feed
ports to the effective pattem radiated by each element. Mutual
coupling changes the distribution. We can measure the mutual
coupling using a network analyzer, and express it as a scattering
parameter (S parameter), impedance, or admittance matrix. By
inverting the matrix, we can find the effective radiation currents
from the excitation voltages (or voltages from currents, etc.). This
gives us the new excitations of the elements, and we can predict
the radiation pattems. For an arbitrary array element, the more-
general technique of the active pattern is an easier approach.
IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, Vol. 40, No. 6, December 1998
Table 1. The excitation phases (in degrees)
for a four-arm spiral antenna.
Table 2. The excitation phases (in degrees)
for an eight-arm spiral antenna.
Mode Polari- Arm Arm Arm Arm Arm Arm Arm Arm
zation 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
The active-pattem method uses measurements of the antenna
pattern of each element when it is imbedded in the array. The
nearby antennas are loaded with the characteristic impedance of
the feed network. The effective radiation from the driven element
is the sum of the radiation from the element and the radiation from
currents excited on the nearby elements. We measure the effective
pattem of the element in the array and assume, in many cases, that
all the elements have the same pattem, even though elements near
the edge will have a different pattem. This allows the calculation to
be separated into the product of the array factor and the element
factor. A spiral antenna has a rotational symmetry to its arms,
which requires the pattem of a single arm to be rotated to the posi-
tion of the other arms before we can add its radiation. We cannot
separate it into the product of an array factor and an element factor.
Each element of the array (spiral arm) has the same pattern, but
each is pointing in a different direction.
6. Spiral pattern Measurements
The characteristics of multiple-arm spirals can be determined
by measurements made on the individual arms. By connecting a
coaxial line to each arm, as shown in Figure 1, they can be meas-
ured separately when the other ports are loaded. The pattems can
be determined by either combining the pattems of the individual
arms, or the pattern of a single arm can be duplicated and rotated to
the position of the other arms and combined, using the amplitude
and phases of a beam-former in the various possible modes.
We consider the multiple-arm antenna as an array. For a spi-
ral, we connect the center conductor of a coax cable to the ends of
each arm of the spiral. We connect the coax outer conductors
together for the inner feeds of the spiral. The outside-feed outer
conductors are connected to a grounding ring. The mutual coupling
between the arms is high, because they are closely wrapped. We
add the responses from each arm in the same manner as an array.
We measure the pattem of each arm separately, with the others
loaded; or use the measurement of the active pattem of a single
arm, and use an array calculation to predict the pattem of the
antenna when excited in various modes. Instead of spacing the
67
elements in the x-y plane to form an array, we rotate the pattern of
the single-arm measurement.
If we measure the pattem of each arm separately, it does not
matter what type of positioning is used during the measurements.
We do not need to rotate the patterns, but only to add them, after
multiplying each one by the mode coefficient for that ann. If we
only measure the pattem of a single arm, assume all the arms are
identical, and rotate the pattem to the position of each arm, it is
convenient to measure the scans about the axis of the spiral. In this
case, a cyclic rotation can be used on the scans to find the pattem
of each arm. If routines are available to rotate the pattem and prop-
erly account for rotation of polarization, then it does not matter
what type of antenna positioning is used.
7. Mode amplitudes from measurements
Although the spiral arms can only be fed in N,, orthogonal
modes, the spiral can radiate any order mode. Errors in the beam-
former feed-network outputs will produce a combination of modes
that can be decomposed into N,,, modes for each input port.
Given the output waves, b, , of the beam-former for a given input
port, the division among the modes is given by
where the Vi,, are the complex conjugates of the mode excita-
tions, given by Equation (l), on the nth arm,for mode m. The rela-
tive power in each mode radiated by the antenna can be found from
the following integral:
where ER and EL are the RHC and LHC voltage components.
The pattern can contain higher-order modes than the limit deter-
mined by the number of arms. The conic patterns are decomposed
into a Fourier Series, using the spiral modes as the expansion
functions, with coefficients given by the inner integrals of Equa-
tion (3). We can normalize by summing the radiated power over a
large range of modes, since the radiated power drops as the mode
number increases, to determine the efficiency of the lower-order
modes. Note that the inner integral needs to be taken over angles
about the axis of the spiral, that is, the upper axis on a model tower
positioner or the q5 axis.
8. S-parameter or impedance measurements
The input impedance for each mode can be determined by
combining the reflection coefficient and the mutual coupling to the
other arms, weighted by the mode coefficients. Because we ana-
lyze the multiple-arm antenna as an array, we can use the active
impedance for the input impedance of each mode. If the array
impedance is expressed using mutual impedance, then the array
can be represented with the following matrix equation:
V=ZI, (4)
where V is the vector of the voltages, Z is the matrix of self and
mutual impedance, and I is the vector of currents. The active
impedance of the first element is calculated by
68 /E Antennas and Propagation Magazine, Vol. 40, No. 6,December 1998
+ z,2 I2 + 213 I3 +...+z,,IN .
z,= z,, - - -
(5)
I1 I, I1
We can formulate the problem by using S parameters: b = S a ,
where the vector a is the combination of the input waves and the
vector b is the combination of the reflected waves from the spiral
ports. We measure these parameters directly on a network ana-
lyzer, with S containing the mutual-coupling terms. In a spiral, we
can assume symmetry, and need only measure from one input port
to all other ports. If we feed port 1 and load all other ports in the
characteristic impedance of the S-parameter system, the input
reflection coefficient becomes
r,=-.4
a1
We can formulate the active reflection coefficient in a manner
similar to the active impedance:
(7)
The matrix terms Sy are the measured mutual-coupling terms
between the arms of the antenna. The values a, are all the same
magnitude, with the phases given by the mode voltages. We con-
vert the reflection coefficient to input impedance by using the
familiar relationship
where Zo is the coaxial characteristic impedance (normally 50 Q).
The input impedance depends on the mode phases. By symmetry,
we can see that the input impedance at all ports is the same for the
modes given above. If the impedances we measure at the ports are
not similar, then a fabrication problem has occurred.
If we place connectors on the output of each arm of the spi-
ral, we can measure the power lost in the loads of the antenna.
These loads prevent reflections from the spiral ends, which would
radiate the opposite sense of circular polarization when the wave
travels back to the input. We denote the output ports as N,,, + 1
through 2N,, in a CCW order. In a spiral, we can assume sym-
metry, and only measure from one input to all the loaded ends. The
power lost in the first load can be found from
Note that there is rotation of output ports. The coupling from input
2 to the end of the first arm SN+1,2 is given by the measured term
S,,,, The general term SN+l,, is found from the measured cou-
pling S2N+2-,,1. The output voltage wave into the load on arm 1
depends on the excitation mode. Because the power will be so low
when the wave arrives at the loads on the ends of the arms, the
load mismatch has little effect on the input impedance. In a prop-
erly sized spiral, most of the power will radiate, and very little will
be lost in the loads on the ends of the arms.
9. Efficiency from S parameters
We can use measurements using a network analyzer to
determine the efficiency of a spiral in its various modes over the
frequency range of the antenna. The antenna distributes the input
power into 1.) radiation, 2.) reflected power loss, 3.) power into the
loads, 4.) losses in the transmission line formed by the spiral to
carry power to the active region, and 5.) radiation into the cavity
absorber, if any. We can measure the radiated power by using an
antenna range, but before that step is taken, the other losses can be
measured or estimated. In the design of the antenna, the losses in
the transmission line should be estimated. The spiral can be con-
sidered as a coplanar transmission line, and the losses estimated
through what could be a very long transmission line to the active
region. For this calculation, it is assumed that the active region is
centered where the circumference of the antenna is Mode A .
Etching a spiral with a low growth rate, or the use of substrates
with poor loss tangents, can lead to large losses. The equations
above give the reflected power loss (l-lrl2 ) and the power into
the loads when fed by each mode. Plots of the spiral losses versus
frequency for various excitation modes quickly reveal the fre-
quency range of good performance.
10. Conclusions
Both the pattem and impedance properties of a multiple-arm
spiral antenna can be found from measurements on single arms of
the spiral. By testing the antenna without the feed network that
generates the various modes, construction problems are easily iso-
lated. The analysis of the spiral as an array gives an effective
means of determining the spiral-antenna characteristics, independ-
ent of the beam-former, and aids the impedance matching of the
antenna to the beam-former feed network. 5-parameter measure-
ment of both the mismatch and the power delivered to the loads on
the arms provides a means of estimating efficiency and the oper-
ating frequency range.
11. References
1. Robert G. Corzine and Joseph A. Mosko, Four-Arm Spiral
Antennas, Nonvood, MA, Artech House, 1990.
2. R. H. DuHamel and J. P. Scherer, in R. C. Johnson (ed.),
Antenna Engineering Handbook, Third Edition, New York,
McGraw-Hill, 1993, Chapter 14.
ideas for Antenna Designers Notebook
Ideas are needed for future issues of the Magazine. Please send your
suggestions to Tom Milligan and they will be considered for publication as
quickly as possible. Topics can include antenna design tips, equations,
nomographs, or shortcuts as well as ideas to improve or facilitate
measurements.
Special Offer to Contributors
How would you like a complete set of the Antenna Designers Notebook
articles published since this column began, in the August, 1983, issue?
Send an idea which is used for a future issue of our Notebook to Tom
Milligan, and you will be rewarded with a notebook containing copies of all
items, including yours, when it is published. This column is a great
opportunity for many of our AP-S members who are too busy to publish a
lengthy paper, but who would like to share some practical information
which can help to increase the productivity of the antenna and propagation
engineers.
Updated Table of Contents
An updated Table of Contents for the Antenna Designers Notebook was
published in the August, 1993, issue of the Magazine.
IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, Vol. 40, No. 6,December 1998
Editors Comments Continuedfrom page 56
through more than 20 X-ray machines, round trip. The only pro-
tection Im aware o f for such situations is requesting hand checks
where possible, and using lead-lined containers where the film is
going to be X-rayed. Of course, denying a hand check to someone
who is prepared to put their film in a lead-lined container is just
plain dumb, in my opinion. Most carry-on X-ray machines cant
see through the lead-lined container (if the container and the
machine are working properly), so the security people then have to
hand-check the film, anyway. Yes, Ive that happen, and Im
always amazed at how proud the security people seem to be of
what theyve done!
Now, lets see. As Dennis Swift reported in his Threads
column some time back, IBM has determined that exposure of
RAM chips to cosmic radiation produces both hard and soft errors.
What does all of this mean for your notebook computer? I havent
seen any data on that question. Actually, my concern for notebook
computers has always been more with associated magnetic data-
storage media and magnetic fields, than with X-rays. Potentially,
there are significant magnetic fields generated by both the magnets
used to focus the electron beam that generates the X-rays, and by
the motors associated with the mechanical mechanisms of X-ray
machines. I have experienced data corruption on floppy disks that I
have attributed to passage through a carry-on-baggage X-ray
machine, although I cannot prove that this was the cause. I have
also experienced one instance in which a cross-linked file was pre-
sent on my notebook computers hard drive, immediately after pas-
sage through a non-film-safe X-ray machine (in the UK); the
error had not shown up immediately prior to going through the
machine. However, this could have been the result of the mechani-
cal effects associated with handling. I would like to see some well-
designed testing done on such X-ray-machine-related magnetic-
field effects.
I always treat my notebook computer essentially the same as
I treat high-speed photographic film, when it comes to airport X-
ray machines. Where possible, I always insist on a hand check. In
contrast, I see at least as many people letting their machines be X-
rayed as requesting hand checks when Im going through US air-
ports, and I have neither heard nor read of anyone else having a
problem. If any of our readers know of data or have had relevant
first-hand experience, I would be interested in hearing about it.
Happy New Year! Although we tried very hard to get this
issue into the mail before the end of 1998, it will probably not be
mailed until early 1999. A year ago, I wrote about our feature-arti-
cle backlog as being the largest in the history of this publication.
We started publishing five feature articles per issue, to try to
reduce the backlog and publication time somewhat. That was suc-
cessful. However, the current submission rate is just somewhat
below that necessary to sustain five articles per issue, so were
going to go back to four articles per issue, at least for a few issues.
There is a simple way to change this, of course, and at the same
time, to take advantage of the reduced backlog: Send us more good
articles! Sharing what youre doing with our readers would be a
great way to start the year.
I hope that the new year brings happiness, prosperity, and
good health to you, your family, and your colleagues.
69