Antenna Coupling Evaluation in Arrays and Complex Structures Using Measured Sources and Simulations

The success of antenna development projects heavily relies on realistic numerical simulations of antennas and their intended operating environments. Central to this success is the accuracy of the antenna representation, which significantly enhances result reliability. Recent advancements have made it possible to derive precise mathematical models directly from measured antennas, seamlessly integrating them into Computational Electromagnetic (CEM) tools. This approach proves invaluable in tackling complex structural challenges, large-scale scenarios, antenna placement intricacies, scattering phenomena, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) applications, among others [1]. An equally intriguing application arises when merging measurement data with simulations to assess antenna coupling [2]–[3]. This becomes particularly important in designing large arrays, allowing an insight into element coupling from single-element measurements. Prior publications have predominantly concentrated on arrays featuring three identical cavity-backed cross-dipole antennas [4]–[5]. Building upon the work laid in [7], where we validated the coupling between multiple simulated near-field sources through numerical simulation, this paper extends the scope by including an experimental validation of the coupling evaluation employing measured sources.