Numerical modeling of antenna radiation patterns with a Gaussian function

For purposes of this class, we can model the main-lobe radiation pattern of a directive antenna as follows.

Define βφ to be the 3-dB beamwidth in azimuth (author's notation is Δφ)

The main-lobe pattern can be modeled as

⎡ ⎛ ⎛ θ ⎞ 2 ⎛ φ ⎞ 2 ⎞⎤
G (θ, φ) = G o exp ⎢− 2.773 ⎜ ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ + ⎜ ⎟ ⎟⎥
⎢ ⎜ ⎝ β θ ⎠ ⎜ β φ ⎟ ⎟⎥
⎣ ⎝ ⎝ ⎠ ⎠⎦

where θ = 0 and φ = 0 corresponds to the direction of maximum gain (broadside).

The results are independent of which angular units you use (degrees or radians ) as long as you use the same units for both
the numerator (θ and φ) and the denominator (βθ and βφ).

For antenna orientation with maximum gain not at θ = 0 and φ = 0, then

⎡ ⎛ ⎛ θ − θ ⎞ 2 ⎛ φ − φ ⎞ 2 ⎞⎤
G (θ, φ) = G o exp ⎢ − 2.773 ⎜ ⎜⎜ o
⎟⎟ + ⎜ o ⎟ ⎟⎥

⎢ ⎜ β ⎜ β ⎟ ⎟⎥
⎣ ⎝ ⎝ θ ⎠ ⎝ φ ⎠ ⎠⎦

where θo and φo represent the direction of maximum gain.

To convert the gain values into decibels, use

G dB (θ, φ) = 10 log10 [ G (θ, φ) ]

which simplifies to

⎛ ⎛ θ − θ ⎞2 ⎛ φ − φ ⎞2 ⎞
G dB (θ, φ) = G o (dB) − 12 ⎜ ⎜⎜ o
⎟ +⎜ o ⎟ ⎟
⎜ ⎝ β θ ⎟⎠ ⎜ β φ ⎟ ⎟
⎝ ⎝ ⎠ ⎠
5 5
o
Gaussian model β θ = 10
o
0 φ = 0 0

-5 -5
Gain (dB)

-10 -10

-15 -15

-20 -20

-25 -25

-30 -30
-20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20

θ (deg)

Example result

1
Numerical modeling of antenna radiation patterns with a sin(x)/x function

For purposes of this class, we can model the main-lobe radiation pattern of a directive antenna as follows.

Define βφ to be the 3-dB beamwidth in azimuth (author's notation is Δφ)

The main-lobe pattern can be modeled as

⎛ sin ( 2.773 θ β θ ) ⎞ ⎛ sin ( 2.773 φ β φ ) ⎞

G (θ, φ) = G o ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ ⎜ ⎟
⎜ 2.773 φ β ⎟
⎝ 2.773 θ β θ ⎠ ⎝ φ ⎠
To convert the gain values into decibels, use

G dB (θ, φ) = 10 log10 [ G (θ, φ) ]

5 5
o
Sin(x)/x model β θ = 10
o
0 φ =0 0

-5 -5
Gain (dB)

-10 -10

-15 -15

-20 -20

-25 -25

-30 -30
-20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20

θ (deg)

Example result

5 5
o
Comparison of β θ = 10
o
0 both models φ = 0
0

-5 -5
Gain (dB)

-10 -10

-15 -15

-20 -20

-25 -25

-30 -30
-20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20

θ (deg)

Results from both models