Time-Domain Analysis of Self-Complementary and Interleaved Log-Periodic Antennas

A systematic near- and far-field analysis of dual polarisation log-periodic antennas is presented in this paper. The investigation of these demanding structures is performed by means of a 3D finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) methodology, properly tailored to tackle their geometrical details and abrupt discontinuities. In particular, the analysis delves into the design parameters of self-complementary, interleaved and trapezoidal-toothed structures and conducts a thorough examination of their radiation characteristics. Furthermore a new discretisation concept involving very flat cells which enhance algorithmic performance is introduced. Numerical verification addresses an extensive set of realistic applications with diverse parameter setups as well as instructive comparisons which indicate the merits of the proposed formulation.