A Gaussian beam approach for embedding antennas into vector parabolic equation based propagation models

Vector parabolic equation (VPE) offers a very efficient methodology for high fidelity modeling of wave propagation in complex environments. While the propagation environment can be discretized and represented in detail, the representation of radiating sources (such as transmitting antennas) requires the calculation, analytical if possible or numerical via another method such as ray-tracing, of the fields that the sources generate on the initial plane of the VPE model. These initial conditions are necessary for subsequently applying VPE. Addressing this significant limitation of VPE methods, we introduce a technique that allows one to directly embed antennas into a VPE mesh, via a Gaussian beam approximation of their radiated fields. Hence, the initial conditions for VPE are generated for practical antenna patterns, without invoking other techniques and with no compromise on the inherent efficiency of VPE. Comparisons of numerical results to experimental data demonstrate the validity and usefulness of the technique.