arXiv subjects

B. L. G. Jonsson

Publications and source records attributed to B. L. G. Jonsson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Investigation of the Asymptotic Properties of Active Impedance in Large Finite Array Antennas

This paper presents an improved full-wave solver for finite array antennas, and uses this solver to examine asymptotic properties of active impedance for large regular arrays. The improved solver is based on a preconditioning scheme that has been adapted for use on more general finite geometries, and an improved data structure. These two improvements result in a fast and stable solver with a lower memory footprint. By investigating the active impedance of finite arrays it is found that, even for arrays with 1000 elements, asymptotic behavior may differ from infinite arrays. Tied to these properties, different predictors on how the active impedance of the center element in the array behaves are presented. The two best predictors work very well for the wideband arrays investigated, and may be used to decide when array approximations, such as unit cell methods, are appropriate, rather than general statements on array size.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2025

Solver Performance of Accelerated MoM for Connected Arrays

Simulating and developing large rectangularly shaped arrays with equidistant interspacing is challenging as the computational complexity grows quickly with array size. However, the geometrical shape of the array, appropriately meshed, leads to a multilevel Toeplitz structure in the RWG-based Method of Moment impedance matrix representation that can be used to mitigate the increased complexity. This paper develops, presents and compares two different accelerated solvers that both utilize the matrix structure to determine antenna properties. Both methods use a novel mesh-partitioning algorithm and its associated data representation, reducing storage and computational costs. The first solver is an iterative method based on multilevel fast Fourier transform to accelerate matrix multiplications. The second solver approach is based on an extension of a fast direct Toeplitz solver, adapted to a block-matrix structure. This fast direct solver is demonstrated to have close to machine epsilon accuracy. Both accelerated methods are evaluated on two different array element types, for arrays with up to 900 elements. The results are compared with conventional direct and iterative matrix solvers. Improvements are seen in both the time and required storage to solve the problem. The choice of the most efficient method depends on the residual thresholds in the iterative method, geometry of the element and frequency. Two different preconditioners for the iterative method are investigated to evaluate their performance. The two accelerated methods vastly outperform regular matrix inversion methods.

math.NA↗

arXiv2025

An Array Decomposition Method for Finite Arrays with Electrically Connected Elements for fast Toeplitz Solvers

A large part of the geometry of array antennas is often partially defined by finite translational symmetries. Applying the method of moments (MoM) with the RWG-like element on an appropriately structured mesh to these arrays results in an impedance matrix where the main part exhibits a multilevel block Toeplitz structure. This article introduces a memory-efficient construction method that effectively represents and reuses impedance calculations. The proposed method, applicable to electrically connected elements, also accounts for all non-symmetric parts of the array. The core idea involves nine distinct electrically connectable components from which the array can be assembled. The derived multilevel block Toeplitz matrix is further utilized by an in-house inverse solver to achieve faster and more memory-efficient MoM current vector calculations. We demonstrate the method by computing the far-field of a 32x32 array and the scattering parameters of two tightly coupled 9x9 arrays. This approach reduces the memory allocation from $\mathcal{O}(N_x^2 N_y^2)$ to $\mathcal{O}(N_x N_y)$, for an $N_x \times N_y$ array.

math.NA↗

arXiv2025

On Adaptive Frequency Sampling for Data-driven Model Order Reduction Applied to Antenna Responses

Frequency domain sweeps of array antennas are well-known to be time-intensive, and different surrogate models have been used to improve the performance. Data-driven model order reduction algorithms, such as the Loewner framework and vector fitting, can be integrated with these adaptive error estimates, in an iterative algorithm, to reduce the number of full-wave simulations required to accurately capture the requested frequency behavior of multiport array antennas. In this work, we propose two novel adaptive methods exploiting a block matrix function which is a key part of the Loewner framework generating system approach. The first algorithm leverages an inherent matrix parameter freedom in the block matrix function to identify frequency points with large errors, whereas the second utilizes the condition number of the block matrix function. Both methods effectively provide frequency domain error estimates, which are essential for improved performance. Numerical experiments on multiport array antenna S-parameters demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed algorithms within the Loewner framework, where the proposed algorithms reach the smallest errors for the smallest number of frequency points chosen.

eess.SY↗

arXiv2021

Physical limitations of phased array antennas

In this paper, the bounds on the Q-factor, a quantity inversely proportional to bandwidth, are derived and investigated for narrow-band phased array antennas. Arrays in free space and above a ground plane are considered. The Q-factor bound is determined by solving a minimization problem over the electric current density. The support of these current densities is on an element-enclosing region, and the bound holds for lossless antenna elements enclosed in this region. The Q-factor minimization problem is formulated as a quadratically constrained quadratic optimization problem that is solved either by a semi-definite relaxation or an eigenvalue-based method. We illustrate numerically how these bounds can be used to determine trade-off relations between the Q-factor and other design specifications: element form-factor, size, efficiency, scanning capabilities, and polarization purity.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2019

Q-factor and bandwidth of periodic antenna arrays over ground plane

In this paper, the Q-factor expression for periodic arrays over a ground plane is determined in terms of the electric current density within the array's unit cell. The expression accounts for the exact shape of the array element. The Q-factor formula includes integration only over a volume of an element in a unit cell, and can thus be efficiently implemented numerically. The examples show good agreement between the proposed Q-factor, the full-wave-calculated tuned fractional bandwidth, and the input-impedance-based formula by Yaghjian and Best (2005) for the array of tilted dipoles and the loops array.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2019

Quasi-Herglotz functions and convex optimization

We introduce the set of quasi-Herglotz functions and demonstrate that it has properties useful in the modeling of non-passive systems. The linear space of quasi-Herglotz functions constitutes a natural extension of the convex cone of Herglotz functions. It consists of differences of Herglotz functions, and we show that several of the important properties and modeling perspectives are inherited by the new set of quasi-Herglotz functions. In particular, this applies to their integral representations, the associated integral identities or sum rules (with adequate additional assumptions), their boundary values on the real axis and the associated approximation theory. Numerical examples are included to demonstrate the modeling of a non-passive gain media formulated as a convex optimization problem, where the generating measure is modeled by using a finite expansion of B-splines and point masses.

math.NA↗

arXiv2019

Stored energies and Q-factor of two-dimensionally periodic antenna arrays

The Q-factor for lossless three-dimensional structures with two-dimensional periodicity is here derived in terms of the electric current density. The derivation in itself is shape-independent and based on the periodic free-space Green's function. The expression for Q-factor takes into account the exact shape of a periodic element, and permits beam steering. The stored energies and the radiated power, both required to evaluate Q-factor, are coordinate independent and expressed in a similar manner to the periodic Electric Field Integral equation, and can thus be rapidly calculated. Numerical investigations, performed for several antenna arrays, indicate fine agreement, accurate enough to be predictive, between the proposed Q-factor and the tuned fractional bandwidth, when the arrays are not too wideband (i.e., when $Q\geq 5$). For completeness, the input-impedance Q-factor, proposed by Yaghjian and Best in 2005, is included and agrees well numerically with the derived Q-factor expression. The main advantage of the proposed representation is its explicit connection to the current density, which allows the Q-factor to give bandwidth estimates based on the shape and current of the array element.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2019

Fundamental bounds on transmission through periodically perforated metal screens with experimental validation

This paper presents a study of transmission through arrays of periodic sub-wavelength apertures. Fundamental limitations for this phenomenon are formulated as a sum rule, relating the transmission coefficient over a bandwidth to the static polarizability. The sum rule is rigorously derived for arbitrary periodic apertures in thin screens. By this sum rule we establish a physical bound on the transmission bandwidth which is verified numerically for a number of aperture array designs. We utilize the sum rule to design and optimize sub-wavelength frequency selective surfaces with a bandwidth close to the physically attainable. Finally, we verify the sum rule and simulations by measurements of an array of horseshoe-shaped slots milled in aluminum foil.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2019

Optimal Planar Electric Dipole Antenna

Considerable time is often spent optimizing antennas to meet specific design metrics. Rarely, however, are the resulting antenna designs compared to rigorous physical bounds on those metrics. Here we study the performance of optimized planar meander line antennas with respect to such bounds. Results show that these simple structures meet the lower bound on radiation Q-factor (maximizing single resonance fractional bandwidth), but are far from reaching the associated physical bounds on efficiency. The relative performance of other canonical antenna designs is compared in similar ways, and the quantitative results are connected to intuitions from small antenna design, physical bounds, and matching network design.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2019

Multi-tone Signal Optimization for Wireless Power Transfer in the Presence of Wireless Communication Links

In this paper, we study optimization of multi-tone signals for wireless power transfer (WPT) systems. We investigate different non-linear energy harvesting models. Two of them are adopted to optimize the multi-tone signal according to the channel state information available at the transmitter. We show that a second-order polynomial curve-fitting model can be utilized to optimize the multi-tone signal for any RF energy harvester design. We consider both single-antenna and multi-antenna WPT systems. In-band co-existing communication links are also considered in this work by imposing a constraint on the received power at the nearby information receiver to prevent its RF front end from saturation. We emphasize the importance of imposing such constraint by explaining how inter-modulation products, due to saturation, can cause high interference at the information receiver in the case of multi-tone signals. The multi-tone optimization problem is formulated as a non-convex linearly constrained quadratic program. Two globally optimal solution approaches using mixed-integer linear programming and finite branch-and-bound techniques are proposed to solve the problem. The achieved improvement resulting from applying both solution methods to the multi-tone optimization problem is highlighted through simulations and comparisons with other solutions existing in the literature.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2018

Antenna Current Optimization and Realizations for Far-Field Pattern Shaping

Far-field shaping of small antennas is a challenge and the realizations of non-dipole radiation of small to intermediate sized antennas are difficult. Here we examine the antenna bandwidth cost associated with such constraints, and in certain cases we design antennas that approach the bounds. Far-field shaping is in particular interesting for Internet-of-things (IoT) and Wi-Fi applications since e.g. spatial filtering can mitigate package loss through a reduction of mutual interference, and hence increase the power efficiency of the devices. Even a rather careful far-field shaping of smaller antennas can be associated with a steep reduction in the best available bandwidth. It is thus important to develop constraints that a small antenna can support. We describe a power front-to-back ratio, and a related, beam-shaping constraint that can be used in optimization for the minimum Q-factor. We show that such a non-convex Q-factor optimization can be solved with the semi-definite relaxation technique. We furthermore show that certain of the above optimized non-standard radiation patterns can be realized with a multi-position feeding strategy with a moderate loss of Q-factor: $Q_\text{antenna}\leq 1.61Q_\text{optimal}$.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2018

Evaluation of the Electric Polarizability for Planar Frequency Selective Arrays

This paper presents a method to estimate the static electric polarizability of two-dimensional infinitely periodic metal patch arrays with dielectric substrate. The main features of the proposed method is its numerical efficiency and a deep insight into the physics of the fields interacting with the structure. We provide derivation and analysis of the method, and its verification against two another commercial solver-based approaches for various structure geometries. Additionally, we suggest the guidelines for applying the method to bandwidth optimization of frequency selective structures and illustrate this with an example.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2017

Passive approximation and optimization using B-splines

A passive approximation problem is formulated where the target function is an arbitrary complex valued continuous function defined on an approximation domain consisting of a finite union of closed and bounded intervals on the real axis. The norm used is a weighted $\text{L}^p$-norm where $1\leq p\leq\infty$. The approximating functions are Herglotz functions generated by a measure with Hölder continuous density in an arbitrary neighborhood of the approximation domain. Hence, the imaginary and the real parts of the approximating functions are Hölder continuous functions given by the density of the measure and its Hilbert transform, respectively. In practice, it is useful to employ finite B-spline expansions to represent the generating measure. The corresponding approximation problem can then be posed as a finite-dimensional convex optimization problem which is amenable for numerical solution. A constructive proof is given here showing that the convex cone of approximating functions generated by finite uniform B-spline expansions of fixed arbitrary order (linear, quadratic, cubic, etc) is dense in the convex cone of Herglotz functions which are locally Hölder continuous in a neighborhood of the approximation domain, as mentioned above. As an illustration, a typical physical application example is included regarding the passive approximation and optimization of a linear system having metamaterial characteristics.

math.NA↗

arXiv2017

On methods to determine bounds on the Q-factor for a given directivity

This paper revisit and extend the interesting case of bounds on the Q-factor for a given directivity for a small antenna of arbitrary shape. A higher directivity in a small antenna is closely connected with a narrow impedance bandwidth. The relation between bandwidth and a desired directivity is still not fully understood, not even for small antennas. Initial investigations in this direction has related the radius of a circumscribing sphere to the directivity, and bounds on the Q-factor has also been derived for a partial directivity in a given direction. In this paper we derive lower bounds on the Q-factor for a total desired directivity for an arbitrarily shaped antenna in a given direction as a convex problem using semi-definite relaxation techniques (SDR). We also show that the relaxed solution is also a solution of the original problem of determining the lower Q-factor bound for a total desired directivity. SDR can also be used to relax a class of other interesting non-convex constraints in antenna optimization such as tuning, losses, front-to-back ratio. We compare two different new methods to determine the lowest Q-factor for arbitrary shaped antennas for a given total directivity. We also compare our results with full EM-simulations of a parasitic element antenna with high directivity.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2017

On the Accuracy of Equivalent Antenna Representations

The accuracy of two equivalent antenna representations, near-field sources and far-field sources, are evaluated for an antenna installed on a simplified platform in a series of case studies using different configurations of equivalent antenna representations. The accuracy is evaluated in terms of installed far-fields and surface currents on the platform. The results show large variations between configurations. The root-mean-square installed far-field error is 4.4% for the most accurate equivalent representation. When using far-field sources, the design parameters have a large influence of the achieved accuracy. There is also a varying accuracy depending on the type of numerical method used. Based on the results, some recommendations on the choice of sub-domain for the equivalent antenna representation are given. In industrial antenna applications, the accuracy in determining e.g. installed far-fields and antenna isolation on large platforms are critical. Equivalent representations can reduce the fine-detail complexity of antennas and thus give an efficient numerical descriptions to be used in large-scale simulations. The results in this paper can be used as a guideline by antenna designers or system engineers when using equivalent sources.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2016

Band bending at the interface in Polyethylene-MgO nanocomposite dielectric

Polymer nanocomposite dielectrics are promising materials for electrical insulation in high voltage applications. However, the physics behind their performance is not yet fully understood. We use density functional theory to investigate electronic properties of the interfacial area in magnesium oxide-polyethylene nanocomposite. Our results demonstrate polyethylene conduction band matching with conduction bands of different surfaces of magnesium oxide. Such band bending results in long range potential wells of up to 2.6 eV deep. Furthermore, the fundamental influence of silicon treatment on magnesium oxide surface properties is assessed. We report a reduction of the surface-induced states at the silicon-treated interface. The simulations provide information used to propose a new model for charge trapping in nanocomposite dielectrics.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

Positive electron affinity of interfacial region in Polyethylene-MgO nanocomposite dielectric

Polymer-based nanocomposite dielectrics are expected to become essential in future generations of high voltage electrical insulation. However, the physics behind their performance is not yet understood. Here we investigate electronic properties of the interfacial area in magnesium oxide-polyethylene nanocomposite. We use density functional theory to calculate densities of states for MgO (100) and hydroxylated MgO (111) interfaces with polyethylene. We evaluate the role of silicon-based nanoparticle surface modification at the electronic level and propose a new theory for charge trapping in nanocomposites.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗