A general method for determining the number of independent stirrer positions in reverberation chambers

A general method for determining the number of independent stirrer positions in reverberation chambers is presented. The method uses a number of N
_o
measurement positions in a defined test volume to characterize the spatial field distribution. Using the Pearson correlation coefficient the field distributions of the stirrer positions are tested for linear correlation and pairs of independent stirrer positions are determined. From those pairs sets of independent stirrer positions are identified using a simple algorithm as well as a maximum clique algorithm. It is shown that the general method yields detailed information about the number and distribution of the independent stirrer positions and is therefore particularly suitable to evaluate other methods. As a first step the standard method according to IEC 61000-4-21 is compared to the presented method.