arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Kurt Schab.
The explicit connection between the transition matrix and boundary element method integral operators is formulated. This enables the calculation of characteristic modes via eigenvalue problems involving either set of operators, leading to convenient orthogonality properties facilitating scattering analysis, solution of inverse problems, and the design of excitation fields.
The equivalent external noise temperature of time-varying antennas is studied using the concept of cross-frequency effective aperture, which quantifies the intermodulation conversion of external noise across the frequency spectrum into a receiver's operational bandwidth. The theoretical tools for this approach are laid out following the classical method for describing external noise temperature of linear time-invariant antennas, with generalizations made along the way to capture the effects of time-varying components or materials. The results demonstrate the specific ways that a time-varying system's noise characteristics are dependent on its cross-frequency effective aperture and the broadband noise environment. The general theory is applied to several examples, including abstract models of hypothetical systems, antennas integrated with parametric amplification, and time-modulated arrays.
The gain, received power bandwidth, transient characteristics, and signal fidelity of two time-varying electrically small antennas based on parametric amplifier design are studied using practical QAM signals. Results show that interference from the difference harmonic present in the response of degenerate-mode parametric amplification decreases its signal throughput relative to a reference linear time-invariant (LTI) receiver, despite its apparent increased received power bandwidth in the frequency domain. The analysis also demonstrates that a non-degenerate parametric receiver, lacking this detrimental effect, exhibits increased signal throughput over the reference LTI receiver.
The problem of substructure characteristic modes is developed using a scattering matrix-based formulation, generalizing subregion characteristic mode decomposition to arbitrary computational tools. It is shown that the modes of the scattering formulation are identical to the modes of the classical formulation based on the background Green's function for lossless systems under conditions where both formulations can be applied. The scattering formulation, however, opens a variety of new subregion scenarios unavailable within previous formulations, including cases with lumped or wave ports or subregions in circuits. Thanks to its scattering nature, the formulation is solver-agnostic with the possibility to utilize an arbitrary full-wave method.
The scattering formulation of characteristic mode decomposition is utilized to extend modal analysis to lossless scatterers breaking time-reversal symmetry. This enables characteristic modes analysis on devices containing gyrotropic or moving media. The resulting nonreciprocity introduces features not observed in reciprocal scenarios, such as asymmetric phase progression in characteristic far fields. These new phenomena are carefully discussed using examples of varying complexity. Indicators of nonreciprocity based on modal data are also introduced.
Characteristic modes of arbitrary two-dimensional periodic systems are analyzed using scattering parameter data. This approach bypasses the need for periodic integral equations and allows for characteristic modes to be computed from generic simulation or measurement data. Example calculations demonstrate the efficacy of the method through comparison against a periodic method of moments formulation for a simple, single-layer conducting unit cell. The effect of vertical structure and electrical size on the number of modes is studied and its discrete nature is verified with example calculations. % Additional examples verify the binary impact of vertical structure on the number of radiating characteristic modes. A multiband polarization-selective surface and a beamsteering metasurface are presented as additional examples.
Though commonly used to calculate Q-factor and fractional bandwidth, the energy stored by radiating systems (antennas) is a subtle and challenging concept that has perplexed researchers for over half a century. Here, the obstacles in defining and calculating stored energy in general electromagnetic systems are presented from first principles as well as using demonstrative examples from electrostatics, circuits, and radiating systems. Along the way, the concept of unobservable energy is introduced to formalize such challenges. Existing methods of defining stored energy in radiating systems are then reviewed in a framework based on technical commonalities rather than chronological order. Equivalences between some methods under common assumptions are highlighted, along with the strengths, weaknesses, and unique applications of certain techniques. Numerical examples are provided to compare the relative margin between methods on several radiating structures.
Characteristic modes are formulated using the scattering dyadic, which maps incident plane waves to scattered far fields generated by an object of arbitrary material composition. Numerical construction of the scattering dyadic using arbitrary full-wave electromagnetic solvers is demonstrated in examples involving a variety of dielectric and magnetic materials. Wrapper functions for computing characteristic modes in method-of-moments, finite-difference time domain, and finite element solvers are provided as supplementary material.
An iterative algorithm is adopted to construct approximate representations of matrices describing the scattering properties of arbitrary objects. The method is based on the implicit evaluation of scattering responses from iteratively generated excitations. The method does not require explicit knowledge of any system matrices (e.g., stiffness or impedance matrices) and is well-suited for use with matrix-free and iterative full-wave solvers, such as FDTD, FEM, and MLFMA. The proposed method allows for significant speed-up compared to the direct construction of a full transition matrix or scattering dyadic. The method is applied to the characteristic mode decomposition of arbitrarily shaped obstacles of arbitrary material distribution. Examples demonstrating the speed-up and complexity of the algorithm are studied with several commercial software packages.
Harmonic generation in the scattered fields produced by a dielectric sphere coated with a time-varying conductive shell is studied using a Mie theory approach hybridized with conversion matrix methods. Analytic results are derived for plane wave incidence as well as in a more general transition matrix setting. An equivalent transmission line approach is also discussed. Numerical examples validate the derived expressions through comparison with purely numerical methods and convergence characteristics are explored. Several additional examples illustrate unique trends in far- and near-field scattering.
This is the second component of a two-part paper dealing with a unification of characteristic mode decomposition. This second part addresses modal tracking and losses and presents several numerical examples for both surface- and volume-based method-of-moment formulations. A new tracking algorithm based on algebraic properties of the transition matrix is developed, achieving excellent precision and requiring a very low number of frequency samples as compared to procedures previously reported in the literature. The transition matrix is further utilized to show that characteristic mode decomposition of lossy objects fails to deliver orthogonal far fields and to demonstrate how characteristic modes can be evaluated using the finite element method.
A unification of characteristic mode decomposition for all method-of-moment formulations of field integral equations describing free-space scattering is derived. The work is based on an algebraic link between impedance and transition matrices, the latter of which was used in early definitions of characteristic modes and is uniquely defined for all scattering scenarios. This also makes it possible to extend the known application domain of characteristic mode decomposition to any other frequency-domain solver capable of generating transition matrices, such as finite difference or finite element methods. The formulation of characteristic modes using a transition matrix allows for the decomposition of induced currents and scattered fields from arbitrarily shaped objects, providing high numerical dynamics and increased stability, removing the issue of spurious modes, and offering good control of convergence. This first part of a two-part paper introduces the entire theory, extensively discusses its properties and offers its basic numerical validation.
Nearly all practical applications of the theory of characteristic modes (CMs) involve the use of computational tools. Here in Paper 2 of this Series on CMs, we review the general transformations that move CMs from a continuous theoretical framework to a discrete representation compatible with numerical methods. We also review several key topics related to computational CMs, including modal tracking, dynamic range, code validation, electrically large problems, and non-PEC techniques.
Internal oscillations in switched antenna transmitters cause undesirable fluctuations of the stored energy in the system, reducing the effectiveness of time-varying broadbanding methods, such as energy-synchronous direct antenna modulation. To mitigate these parasitic oscillations, a modified direct antenna modulation system with an auxiliary DC source is introduced to stabilize energy storage on the antenna. A detailed circuit model for a direct antenna modulation system is used to identify the origin of the oscillations and to justify the selection of the DC source. Measured phase shift keyed waveforms transmitted by the modified system show significant increases in signal fidelity, including a 10-20 dB reduction in error vector magnitude compared to a time-invariant system. Comparison to an equivalent, scalable time-invariant antenna suggests that the switched transmitter behaves as though it has 2-3 times lower radiation Q-factor and 20% higher radiation efficiency.
Characteristic modes on infinite periodic structures are studied using spectral dyadic Green's functions. This formulation demonstrates that, in contrast to the modal analysis of finite structures, the number of radiating characteristic modes is limited by unit cell size and incident wavevector (i.e., scan angle or phase shift per unit cell). The reflection tensor is decomposed into modal contributions from radiating modes, indicating that characteristic modes are a predictably sparse basis in which to study reflection phenomena.
Fundamental bounds on the performance of monochromatic scattering-cancellation and field-zeroing cloaks made of prescribed linear passive materials occupying a predefined design region are formulated by projecting field quantities onto a sub-sectional basis and applying quadratically constrained quadratic programming. Formulations are numerically tested revealing key physical trends as well as advantages and disadvantages between the two classes of cloaks. Results show that the use of low-loss materials with high dielectric contrast affords the highest potential for effective cloaking.
Trade-offs between feasible absorption and scattering cross sections of obstacles confined to an arbitrarily shaped volume are formulated as a multi-objective optimization problem solvable by Lagrangian-dual methods. Solutions to this optimization problem yield a Pareto-optimal set, the shape of which reveals the feasibility of achieving simultaneously extremal absorption and scattering. Two forms of the trade-off problems are considered involving both loss and reactive material parameters. Numerical comparisons between the derived multi-objective bounds and several classes of realized structures are made. Additionally, low-frequency (electrically small, long wavelength) limits are examined for certain special cases.
Relative bounds on radiation efficiency are established for time-modulated antenna systems where radiation is generated by broadband conduction currents impressed using idealized non-radiating time-varying subsystems, such as those found in direct antenna modulation (DAM) transmitters. Analytical and numerical examples demonstrate that the condition of quasi-resonance, common in nearly all practical direct antenna modulation transmitters, imposes severe restrictions on the otherwise unbounded gains in effective efficiency theoretically achievable by this class of time-modulated transmitters.