Simulation of mutual coupling effect in circular arrays for direction-finding applications

Abstract

The effect of mutual coupling on direction finding in circular arrays is simulated using rigorous electromagnetic computation and the MUSIC superresolution algorithm. The various scenarios studied include element spacing, noise level, antenna gain and delay, and platform effects. Our results show quantitatively the effect of mutual coupling on the direction-of-arrival estimates. The compensation of the coupling effect using the coupling matrix approach is also examined. This approach is found to be quite satisfactory in most cases, except when the array calibration data contain a high noise level or when strong platform effects are present. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 26: 331–336, 2000.