LECTURE 13: LINEAR ARRAY THEORY - PART I

(Linear arrays: the two-element array. N-element array with uniform amplitude
and spacing. Broad-side array. End-fire array. Phased array.)
1. Introduction
Usually the radiation patterns of single-element antennas are relatively wide,
i.e., they have relatively low directivity (gain). In long distance
communications, antennas with high directivity are often required. Such
antennas are possible to construct by enlarging the dimensions of the radiating
aperture (maximum size much larger than ). This approach however may lead
to the appearance of multiple side lobes. Besides, the antenna is usually large
and difficult to fabricate.
Another way to increase the electrical size of an antenna is to construct it as
an assembly of radiating elements in a proper electrical and geometrical
configuration antenna array. Usually, the array elements are identical. This
is not necessary but it is practical and simpler for design and fabrication. The
individual elements may be of any type (wire dipoles, loops, apertures, etc.)
The total field of an array is a vector superposition of the fields radiated by
the individual elements. To provide very directive pattern, it is necessary that
the partial fields (generated by the individual elements) interfere constructively
in the desired direction and interfere destructively in the remaining space.
There are five basic methods to control the overall antenna pattern:
a) the geometrical configuration of the overall array (linear, circular,
spherical, rectangular, etc.),
b) the relative placement of the elements,
c) the excitation amplitude of the individual elements,
d) the excitation phase of each element,
e) the individual pattern of each element.

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2. Two-element Array
Let us represent the electric fields in the far zone of the array elements in the
form
E1 M 1En1 (1 ,1 )

j kr1
e 2

E2 M 2 En 2 ( 2 ,2 )

r1

1 ,

j kr2
e 2

r2

(13.1)

2 .

(13.2)

r1
z

d
2

r
r2

d
2

Here,
M1 , M1
En1 , En 2
r1 , r2

1 , 2
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field magnitudes (do not include the 1/r factor);

normalized field patterns;
distances to the observation point P;
phase difference between the feed of the two array elements;
polarization vectors of the far-zone E fields.
2

The far-field approximation of the two-element array problem:

r1
z

d
2

d
2

r2

d
cos
2
Let us assume that:
1) the array elements are identical, i.e.,
En1 ( , ) En 2 ( , ) En ( , ) ,

(13.3)

2) they are oriented in the same way in space (they have identical
polarizations), i.e.,
1 2 ,
(13.4)
3) their excitation is of the same amplitude, i.e.,
M1 M 2 M .
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(13.5)
3

Then, the total field can be derived as

E E1 E2 ,

(13.6)

d

jk r cos j
1 jk r 2 cos j 2
2
2 ,
E MEn , e
e
r

j kd cos j kd cos
M jkr
2 e 2
2,
E e En , e 2
r

e jkr
kd cos
En ( , ) 2cos
E M
.
r
2

EF

(13.7)

AF

The total field of the array is equal to the product of the field created by a
single element located at the origin and the array factor (AF):
kd cos
AF 2cos
2

(13.8)

Using the normalized field pattern of a single element, En ( , ) , and the

normalized AF,
kd cos
AFn cos
2

(13.9)

the normalized field pattern of the array is expressed as their product:

f n ( , ) En ( , ) AFn ( , ) .

(13.10)

The concept expressed by (13.10) is the so-called pattern multiplication rule

valid for arrays of identical elements. This rule holds for any array consisting of
decoupled identical elements, where the excitation magnitudes, the phase shift
between the elements and the displacement between them are not necessarily
the same. The total pattern, therefore, can be controlled via the singleelement
pattern En ( , ) or via the AF. The AF, in general, depends on the:
number of elements,
mutual placement,
relative excitation magnitudes and phases.
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Example 1: An array consists of two horizontal infinitesimal dipoles located at

a distance d / 4 from each other. Find the nulls of the total field in the
elevation plane 90 , if the excitation magnitudes are the same and the
phase difference is:
0
a)
b)
/ 2
/ 2
c)

0 z

90

90
y

180

The element factor En ( , ) 1 sin 2 sin 2 does not depend on , and it

produces in all three cases the same null. For 90 , En ( , ) | cos | and
the null is at

1 / 2 .

(13.11)

The AF depends on and produces different results in the 3 cases:

a) 0
kd cos n
AFn cos
0
2

cos n (2n 1)

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cos cos n 0 ,
4

cos n (2n 1) 2 , n 0, 1, 2, .

A solution with a real-valued angle does not exist. In this case, the total field
pattern has only 1 null at 90 .

Fig. 6.3, p. 255, Balanis

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b) / 2

AFn cos cos n 0

4
4
cos n 1 (2n 1) 2

cos n 1 (2n 1)

cos ( n 0) 1 2 0 .

The solution for n 0 is the only real-valued solution. Thus, the total field
pattern has 2 nulls: at 1 90 and at 2 0 :

Fig. 6.4, p. 256, Balanis

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c) / 2

AFn cos cos n 0

4
4
cos n 1 (2n 1) 2

(cos n 1) (2n 1) ,
4
2

cos ( n 1) 1 2 .

The total field pattern has 2 nulls: at 1 90 and at 2 180 .

Fig. 6.4b, p. 257, Balanis

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Example 2: Consider a 2-element array of identical (infinitesimal) dipoles

oriented along the y-axis. Find the angles of observation where the nulls of the
pattern occur in the plane 90 as a function of the distance d between the
dipoles and the phase difference .

The normalized total field pattern is

kd cos
f n cos cos
2

(13.12)

(13.13)

In order to find the nulls, the equation

kd cos
f n cos cos
2

is solved.
The element factor | cos | produces one null at

1 / 2 .

(13.14)

The AF leads to the following solution:

kd cos
cos
2

kd cos

(2
n

1)
, n 0, 1, 2...

2
2

2n 1 .
2 d

n arccos

(13.15)

When there is no phase difference between the two element feeds ( 0) , the
separation d must satisfy
d

2
in order at least one null to occur due to (13.15).

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3. N-element Linear Array with Uniform Amplitude and Spacing

We assume that each succeeding element has a progressive phase lead
current excitation relative to the preceding one. An array of identical elements
with identical magnitudes and with a progressive phase is called a uniform
array. The AF of the uniform array can be obtained by considering the
individual elements as point (isotropic) sources. Then, the total field pattern can
be obtained by simply multiplying the AF by the normalized field pattern of the
individual element (provided the elements are not coupled).
The AF of an N-element linear array of isotropic sources is
AF 1 e j kd cos e j 2 kd cos e j N 1 kd cos .

(13.16)

to P

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d cos

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Phase terms of the partial fields:

1st e jkr
2nd e jk r d cos
3rd e jk r 2 d cos

N th e jk r N 1d cos

Equation (13.16) can be re-written as

N

AF e j n 1 kd cos ,

(13.17)

n 1

AF e j n 1 ,

(13.18)

n 1

where kd cos .
From (13.18), it is obvious that the AFs of uniform linear arrays can be
controlled by the relative phase between the elements. The AF in (13.18)
can be expressed in a closed form, which is more convenient for pattern
analysis:

AF

e j

e jn ,

(13.19)

n 1

AF e j AF e jN 1 ,

e jN 1

AF j
e 1

AF

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N
j N
j
2
e 2
e

j
j j
e 2 e 2 e 2

N
j
e 2

N 1
j

sin N
2
.


sin
2

(13.20)

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Here, N shows the location of the last element with respect to the reference
point in steps of the length d. The phase factor, exp j ( N 1) / 2 , is not
important unless the array output signal is further combined with the output
signal of another antenna. It represents the phase shift of the arrays phase
centre relative to the origin, and it would be equal to one if the origin were to
coincide with the array centre. As we aim at obtaining the normalized AF, we
will neglecting the phase factor, which gives

sin N
2 .
AF

sin
2

(13.21)

For small values of , (13.21) reduces to

sin N
2 .
AF

(13.22)

2
To normalize (13.22) or (13.21), we need the maximum of the AF. We re-write
(13.21) as

sin N
2
.
AF N

N sin
2

(13.23)

The function

f ( x)

sin( Nx)
N sin( x)

has its maximum at x 0, , , and the value of this maximum is f max 1.

Therefore, AFmax N . The normalized AF is thus obtained as

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sin N
2 .
AFn

N sin
2

(13.24)

The function | f ( x) | is plotted below.

1
0.9

f ( x)

0.8

sin( Nx)
N sin( x )

0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4

N 3

0.3

N 5

0.2

N 10

0.1
0

For small ,
N
sin

1 2
.
AFn

(13.25)

Nulls of the AF
To find the nulls of the AF, equation (13.24) is set equal to zero:
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N
sin 0
2

N
N
n kd cos n n , (13.26)
2
2

2n

, n 1,2,3 (n 0, N , 2 N ,3N ) .(13.27)

d
N

n arccos

When n 0, N , 2 N ,3 N , the AF attains its maximum values (see the case

below). The values of n determine the order of the nulls. For a null to exist, the
argument of the arccosine must be between 1 and +1.
Maxima of the AF
They are studied in order to determine the maximum directivity, the
HPBWs, the direction of maximum radiation. The maxima of (13.24) occur
when (see the plot in page 13, note that x / 2 )

1
kd cos m m ,
2

2m , m 0,1, 2 .
2 d

m arccos

(13.28)
(13.29)

When (13.28) is true, AFn 1, i.e., these are not maxima of minor lobes. The
index m shows the maximums order. It is usually desirable to have a single
major lobe, i.e. m = 0 only. This can be achieved by choosing d / sufficiently
small. Then the argument of the arccosine function in (13.29) becomes greater
than unity for m 1, 2 and equation (13.29) has a single real-valued solution:

.
2
d

0 arccos

(13.30)

The HPBW of a major lobe

The HPBW of a major lobe is calculated by setting the value of AFn equal to
1 / 2 . For the approximate AFn in (13.25),
N
N
kd cos h 1.391 .
2
2
See plot of (sin x) / x below.

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2.782
h arccos

.
N
2 d

(13.31)

For a symmetrical pattern around m (the angle at which maximum

radiation occurs), the HPBW is calculated as
HPBW 2 | m h | .

(13.32)

For a broadside array, for example, m 0 / 2 .

1

sin(x)/x

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0

Maxima of minor lobes (secondary maxima)

They are the maxima of AFn, where AFn 1 . These are illustrated in the plot
below, which shows the array factors as a function of kd cos for a
uniform equally spaced linear array with N = 3, 5, 10.
The secondary maxima occur approximately where the numerator attains a
maximum and the AF is beyond its 1st null:

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N
sin 1 kd cos (2 s 1) ,
2
2
2

(13.33)

2s 1

s arccos

or

N
2 d

(13.34)

2s 1

arccos

2
N
2 d

(13.35)

1
sin( N / 2)
N sin( / 2)
kd cos

0.9

f ( )

0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4

N 3

0.3

N 5

0.2

N 10

0.1
0

4. Broadside Array

A broadside array is an array, which has maximum radiation at 90

(normal to the axis of the array). For optimal solution, both the element factor
and the AF, should have their maxima at 90 .
From (13.28), it follows that the maximum of the AF occurs when

kd cos m 0 .
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(13.36)
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Equation (13.36) is valid for the 0th order maximum, m 0 . If m / 2 , then

0 .

(13.37)

The uniform linear array has its maximum radiation at 90 , if all array
elements have their excitation with the same phase.
To ensure that there are no maxima in other directions (grating lobes), the
separation between the elements d must be smaller than the wavelength:
d .

(13.38)

To illustrate the appearance of additional maxima, AFn 1, let us consider the

case of d , where 1. Then,

kd cos

cos 2 cos .

The condition for AFn 1 from (13.28),

m 2 m, m 0, 1, 2

(13.39)

(13.40)

is then fulfilled not only for 0 / 2 but also for

m
, m 1, 2 .

g arccos

(13.41)

As long as m , real-valued solutions for g exist and grating lobes appear in

the AF.
If, for example, d ( 1) , equation (13.41) results in two additional
major lobes at

g arccos 1 g1,2 0,180 .

The resulting AF is illustrated in figure (b) below.
If d 2 ( 2) , equation (13.41) results in four additional major lobes at
1
2

g arccos , 1 g1,2,3,4 0,60,120,180 .

If d 1.25 ( 1.25) ,

g arccos 0.8 g1,2 37,143 .

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5. Ordinary End-fire Array

An end-fire array is an array, which has its maximum radiation along the
axis of the array ( 0,180) . It may be required that the array radiates only in
one direction either 0 or 180 . For an AF maximum at 0 ,

kd cos

kd 0 ,

kd , for max 0 .

(13.42)
(13.43)

For an AF maximum at 180 ,

kd cos

180

kd 0 ,

kd , for max 180 .

(13.44)

If the element separation is multiple of a wavelength, d n , then in addition

to the end-fire maxima there also exist maxima in the broadside direction
( 90 ). As with the broadside array, in order to avoid grating lobes, the
maximum spacing between the element should be less than :
d .

(Show that an end-fire array with d / 2 has 2 maxima for kd : at

0 and at 180 .)

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AF pattern of an EFA: N = 10, d / 4

Fig. 6-11, p. 270, Balanis

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6. Phased (Scanning ) Arrays

It was already shown that the 0th order maximum (m=0) of AFn occurs when

kd cos 0 0 .

(13.45)

This gives the relation between the direction of the main beam 0 and the phase
difference . The direction of the main beam can be controlled by the phase
shift . This is the basic principle of electronic scanning for phased arrays.
When the scanning is required to be continuous, the feeding system must be
capable of continuously varying the progressive phase between the elements.
This is accomplished by ferrite or diode shifters (varactors).
Example: Derive the values of the progressive phase shift as dependent on
the direction of the main beam 0 for a uniform linear array with d / 4 .
From equation (13.45):

kd cos0

cos 0 cos 0
4
2

-90

60

-45

120

+45

180

+90

The approximate HPBW of a scanning array is obtained using (13.31) with

kd cos 0 :

2 d

h 1,2 arccos

2.782

.
N

(13.46)

The total beamwidth is

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HPBW h1 h 2 ,

(13.47)

2.782

2.782
HPBW arccos
kd
cos

arccos
kd
cos

0
0

2 d
N
N

2 d

(13.48)
Since k 2 / ,
2.782
2.782

HPBW arccos cos 0

arccos
cos

. (13.49)

Nkd
Nkd

We can use the substitution N ( L d ) / d to obtain

HPBW arccos cos 0 0.443

L d

arccos cos 0 0.443
.
L
d

(13.50)

Here, L is the length of the array.

Equations (13.49) and (13.50) can be used to calculate the HPBW of a
broadside array, too ( 0 90 const ). However, they are not valid for end-fire
arrays, where
2.782
HPBW 2arccos 1
.
Nkd

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(13.51)

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