Polarization of Plane Waves

1
 Polarization

The polarization of a plane wave refers to the direction of the

electric field vector in the time domain.

S ( z, t )

y
E( z, t )
x

We assume here that the wave is traveling in the positive z direction.

2
 Polarization (cont.)
Consider a plane wave with both x and y components
y

Ey

x
Ex

Phasor domain:
E ( z ) = ( xˆ E x + yˆ E y ) e − jkz

E x = a = real number
Assume:
E y = be j

(In general,  = phase of E y − phase of Ex )

3
 Polarization (cont.)

y
Time Domain:

z=0
E (t )
x

Ex = Re ( ae jt ) = a cos (t )

Ey = Re ( be j e jt ) = b cos (t +  )

Depending on b/a and , three different cases arise:

▪ Linear polarization
▪ Circular polarization
▪ Elliptical polarization
4
 Polarization (cont.)

Power Density: 1
S = E  H*
2

Ex Ey
From Faraday’s law: Hy = , Hx = −
 

Hence
*
  Ey   Ex  
S = ( xˆ Ex + yˆ E y )   xˆ  −  + yˆ   
1
2       

Assume lossless medium ( is real):

S=
1
2
(
zˆ E x + E y
2 2
) or S=
1
2
zˆ E
2

5
 Linear Polarization

 =0 or  =

Ex = a cos (t )
At z = 0:
Ey = b cos (t +  )

Ex = a cos t + sign :  = 0
Ey = b cos t − sign :  = 

( )
E = xˆ a  yˆ b cos t

6
Linear Polarization (cont.)

E = ( xˆ a  yˆ b ) cos t

This is simply a “tilted” plane wave.

y
y x

b
E (t )

x
a
 b
 = tan −1   
a 
(shown for  = 0)
7
 Circular Polarization

b = a and  =  / 2

Ex = a cos (t )
At z = 0:
Ey = b cos (t +  )

Note: The top sign is

always for  = + /2.
Ex = a cos t
Ey = a cos(t   / 2) = a sin t

E = Ex2 + Ey2 = a 2 cos2 t + a 2 sin2 t = a 2

2

8
 Circular Polarization (cont.)
y

E (t )
a
 (t )
x

 Ey 
 ( t ) = tan 
−1
 = tan −1
( tan  t ) = tan −1
(tan t )
 Ex 

 ( t ) = t

9
 Circular Polarization (cont.)

 =  / 2 Ex = a cos (t )
Ey = b cos (t +  )
IEEE convention y
Your thumb is in the direction
of propagation, and the
fingers are in the direction of E (t )
the rotation in time.
a
 = /2
 (t )
x
 = − / 2 LHCP

Note:
RHCP The mechanical angular
velocity is the same as the
electrical radian frequency .

d ( t )
 ( t ) = t  = 
dt
10
 Circular Polarization (cont.)

Rotation in space vs. rotation in time

Examine how the field varies in both space and time:

( )
E( z) = xˆ a + yˆ be j e− jkz Phasor domain

E( z, t ) = xˆ a cos (t − kz ) + yˆ b cos (t − kz +  ) Time domain

There is opposite rotation in space and time.

11
 Circular Polarization (cont.)

A snapshot of the electric field vector, showing the vector at different points.

Notice that the rotation in space

matches the left hand!

RHCP

12
 Circular Polarization (cont.)
Animation of LHCP wave

(Use pptx version in full-screen mode to see motion.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circular_polarization

13
 Circular Polarization (cont.)
Circular polarization is often used in wireless communications to
avoid problems with signal loss due to polarization mismatch.

➢ Misalignment of transmit and receive antennas

➢ Reflections off of buildings
➢ Propagation through the ionosphere
Receive antenna

The receive antenna will always receive a signal,

no matter how it is rotated about the z axis.

However, for the same incident power density, an optimum linearly-polarized wave will
give the maximum output signal from this linearly-polarized antenna (3 dB higher than
from an incident CP wave). The linear antenna “throws away” half of the incident signal.
14
 Circular Polarization (cont.)
Two ways in which circular polarization can be obtained:

Method 1) Use two identical antennas rotated by 90o, and fed 90o out of phase.
y

 = − / 2 Antenna 2

Antenna 1
x
- -
Vy = − j = 1 − 90 Vx = 1
o

+ +

This antenna will radiate a RHCP signal in the positive z

direction, and LHCP in the negative z direction.
15
 Circular Polarization (cont.)
Realization of method 1 using a 90o delay line
y

 l2 −  l1 =  / 2
Antenna 2

Antenna 1
x
Z 01
l1 Signal
Z 01
Z01 = Z ANT
in
l2 Feed line Z 02

Power splitter : Z02 = Z01 / 2

16
Circular Polarization (cont.)

An array of CP antennas

17
 Circular Polarization (cont.)

The two antennas can realized by using two different modes of a

single microstrip or dielectric resonator antenna.

P1 = length

P2 = P1 + g / 4

18
 Circular Polarization (cont.)

Method 2) Use an antenna that inherently radiates circular polarization.

Helical antenna for WLAN communication at 2.4 GHz

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helical_antenna

19
Circular Polarization (cont.)
Helical antennas on a GPS satellite

20
Circular Polarization (cont.)
Other Helical antennas

21
 Circular Polarization (cont.)
An antenna that radiates circular polarization will also receive circular
polarization of the same handedness, and be blind to the opposite
handedness. (The proof is omitted.)

Note:

 l2 −  l1 =  / 2
It does not matter how the
receive antenna is rotated
about the z axis.
Antenna 2
RHCP Antenna
(radiates RHCP in the +z direction)
Antenna 1 The two
x signals add
in phase.
Z 01
l1 Signal
Z 01

l2 Feed line Z 02
RHCP wave
z
22
 Circular Polarization (cont.)
Summary of Possible Polarization Scenarios
1) Transmit antenna is LP, receive antenna is LP

▪ Simple, works good if both antennas are aligned.

▪ The received signal is less if there is a misalignment.

2) Transmit antenna is CP, receive antenna is LP

▪ Signal can be received no matter what the alignment is.
▪ The received signal is 3 dB less then for two aligned LP antennas.

3) Transmit antenna is CP, receive antenna is CP (of the same handedness)

▪ Signal can be received no matter what the alignment is.

▪ There is never a loss of signal, no matter what the alignment is.
▪ The system is now more complicated.

23
 Elliptic Polarization
Includes all other cases that are not linear or circular

E (t )

 (t )
x

The tip of the electric field vector stays on an ellipse.

(This is proved in Appendix A.)

24
 Elliptic Polarization (cont.)
Rotation Property
y
Ex = a cos (t )
RHEP
Ey = b cos (t +  )

E (t )
 (t )
x

LHEP

0   LHEP
−    0 RHEP

(This is proved in Appendix B.)

25
 Rotation Rule

Here we give a simple graphical method for determining the type of

polarization (left-handed or right handed).

26
 Rotation Rule (cont.)
First, we review the concept of leading and lagging sinusoidal waves.

Two phasors: A and B

A = ae j 0
Im B = be j
B leads A 0  
B
 Note:
A We can always assume that the phasor A
Re is on the real axis (zero degrees phase)
without loss of generality, since it is only
the phase difference between the two
phasors that is important.
Im

B lags A −    0
A
Re
B 
27
 Rotation Rule (cont.)
Now consider the case of a plane wave.

Im
E y leads Ex
(a) 0     LHEP Ey
 Ex
Re
y
Observation: Leading axis

The electric field vector rotates

in time from the leading axis to E (t )
the lagging axis.
 (t )
x
Lagging axis

LHEP
28
 Rotation Rule (cont.)

Im

E y lags Ex
(b) −    0 RHEP
Ex
Re
Ey 
y
Observation: RHEP
Lagging axis

The electric field vector rotates

in time from the leading axis to
E (t )
the lagging axis.
 (t )
x
Leading axis

29
 Rotation Rule (cont.)

The rule works in both cases, so we can call it a general rule:

Rotation Rule:
In time, the electric field vector rotates from the
leading axis to the lagging axis.

30
 Rotation Rule (cont.)

Example

E =  zˆ (1 + j ) + xˆ (2 − j ) e jky

Ez

Ex
x

What is this wave’s polarization?

31
 Rotation Rule (cont.)

Example (cont.)

E =  zˆ (1 + j ) + xˆ (2 − j ) e jky

Im

Ez leads Ex
Ez

Re
Ex

Therefore, in time the wave rotates from the z axis to the x axis.

32
 Rotation Rule (cont.)

Example (cont.)

E =  zˆ (1 + j ) + xˆ (2 − j ) e jky

Your thumb is in the direction z

of the power flow.

Ez
Rotation
y

Ex
x
LHEP or LHCP


Note: Ex  Ez and   (so this is not LHCP)
2
33
 Rotation Rule (cont.)

Example (cont.)

E =  zˆ (1 + j ) + xˆ (2 − j ) e jky

Ez
Rotation
y

Ex
x

Conclusion: LHEP

34
Axial Ratio (AR) and Tilt Angle ()
y
E (t )
B

C
 = tilt angle

x

major axis AB
AR = = 1
minor axis CD

Note: In dB we have AR dB = 20log10 ( AR )

35
 Axial Ratio (AR) and Tilt Angle ( ) Formulas
These formulas assume that the wave has Ex and Ey components, and the power is flowing in the +z direction.

Axial Ratio and Handedness

b
  tan   −1

a
AR = cot 
0    90o
  0: LHEP

Tilt Angle   0: RHEP

tan 2 = tan 2 cos  where

sin 2 = sin 2 sin 

− 45    +45
o o
Note:
The tilt angle  is ambiguous by the
addition of  90o.
36
 Note on Tilt Angle

The title angle is zero or 90o if:

 =  / 2

Tilt Angle: tan 2 = tan 2 cos 

y

E (t )

37
 Example
E =  zˆ (1 + j ) + xˆ (2 − j ) e jky

z Find the axial ratio and tilt angle.

LHEP
Ez Note:
In order to use the formulas for tilt
angle and axial ratio, we need to
y relabel to coordinate system so
that the wave has Ex and Ey
Ex components, and the power is
x flowing in the +z direction.

x→x
Re-label the coordinate system:
z→ y
y → −z
38
 Example (cont.)

E =  yˆ (1 + j ) + xˆ (2 − j ) e− jkz

y
LHEP
Ez

Ex
x

Normalize:
  1+ j   − jkz
E =  xˆ (1) + yˆ   e
 2− j 
or

E =  xˆ (1) + yˆ ( 0.6324 e j1.249 ) e − jkz

39
 Example (cont.)

E =  xˆ (1) + yˆ ( 0.6324 e j1.249 ) e − jkz

y Hence

LHEP a =1
Ez b = 0.6324
 = 1.249[rad] = 71.565o
z

Ex
x

 = E y − Ex = 71.565o

b
 = tan   = tan −1 ( 0.632 ) = 0.564  rad 
−1

a

40
 Example (cont.)

 = 0.564  rad
 = 71.565o
AR = cot 

  0: LHEP Results:

  0: RHEP
 = 16.845o
where  = 29.499o
sin 2 = sin 2 sin  AR = 1.768
− 45    +45
o o
LHEP

41
 Example (cont.)

AR = 1.768
y
 = 16.845o

E (t )

 Note: We are not sure

x
which choice is correct:

 = 16.845o
LHEP  = 16.845o + 90o
We can make a quick time-domain sketch to be sure.

42
 Example (cont.)

Summary
Ex = a cos (t )
y Ey = b cos (t +  )

E (t ) Given:
a =1
 b = 0.6324
x
 = 1.249[rad] = 71.565o

LHEP Results:
LHEP
AR = 1.768
 = 16.845o
43