Quadrifilar Helix Antenna Design for Communication Systems
Summary
The quadrifilar helix antenna (QHA) has emerged as a versatile solution for modern communication systems requiring compact form factors, wide angular coverage and stable circular polarisation. Consisting of four helically wound radiators fed in quadrature, the QHA can deliver near-omnidirectional patterns or tailored beam shapes for satellite links, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and handheld terminals. Design innovations have focused on miniaturisation via printed circuit implementations, multi-band operation and integration with advanced feed networks. Recent attention has also turned to achieving isoflux coverage for low-earth-orbit satellite reception and dual-mode functionality in handset devices. The global significance of QHA design is underpinned by its application in navigation, telemetry, tracking and control, as well as in emerging IoT and 5G platforms. Advances in materials, fabrication techniques and network integration continue to expand the practical deployment of QHAs in both terrestrial and space environments.
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Quadrifilar Helix Antenna Design for Communication Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in quadrifilar helix antenna design for communication systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Quadrifilar helix antenna (QHA): An antenna comprising four helically wound radiators fed with equal amplitudes and 90° phase shifts to produce circular polarisation.
Circular polarisation: The rotation of the electric field vector in a helical pattern, enabling orientation-independent reception.
Axial ratio: The ratio of major to minor axes of the polarisation ellipse, indicating purity of circular polarisation (1:1 ideal).
Beamwidth: The angular separation between points where the radiated power falls to half its maximum, often expressed as half-power beamwidth.
Isoflux coverage: A radiation pattern that maintains approximately constant signal strength over a defined angular range, useful for satellite links.
References
- Design of Low-Profile Dual-Band Printed Quadrifilar Helix Antenna With Wide Beamwidth for UAV GPS Applications. IEEE Access (2020).
- Design of miniaturised printed quadrifilar helix antenna with isoflux coverage and wide‐angle circular polarisation. IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation (2021).
- Integrated Design of Multimode and Multifrequency Miniaturized Handset Antenna at VHF/UHF Bands. International Journal of Antennas and Propagation (2023).
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