---
title: 10-Turn Helical Antenna | Remcom
description: A 10-turn helical antenna is simulated in XF to demonstrate how a circularly polarized antenna is analyzed.
---

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# [10-Turn Helical Antenna | Remcom](https://www.remcom.com/resources/examples/10-turn-helical-antenna)

 Written by [Admin](https://www.remcom.com/resources/author/admin) | Dec 31, 2016 2:27:00 PM

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The [antenna design](https://www.remcom.com/applications/antenna-simulation-design-software) and dimensions are taken from Example 6-2 on page 239 of “Antenna Theory and Design” by Stutzman and Thiele [1]. The center frequency is 8 GHz giving a helix circumference of 3.45 cm. The helix is constructed with a right hand (clockwise) twist to produce a right hand circularly polarized far-field pattern. The spacing between turns is 0.796 cm. The theoretical half-power beam width of 44 degrees and 39 degrees is provided in Figure 6-14a and 6-14c [1]. These two beam widths represent a value taken from measurements and computed from simple theory. 

The antenna is constructed in [XFdtd](https://www.remcom.com/xfdtd-3d-em-simulation-software) using the helix script. The helix will expand along the Z-axis and will have a radius of 0.549 cm. In addition to the helix, a small 2D ground plane is centered on the base of the helix with dimensions of 4 cm x 4 cm. The resulting CAD model geometry is shown in Figure 1. It was meshed with a cubical cell size of 0.3 mm. 

 

Figure 1: CAD model of helix.

 

The feed is applied to the cell edge that connects the helix to the base plate. A sinusoidal signal at 8 GHz is used as the waveform, and automatic convergence criteria is set to -30 dB. Following the simulation, the far zone patterns are computed in a 2D cutplane and as a 3D pattern. The right hand circularly polarized pattern is shown in Figure 2. Since the antenna is right polarized, the left hand polarization pattern, shown in Figure 3, is much lower.

 

Figure 2: Right hand circularly polarized far zone gain pattern.

 

Figure 3: Left had circularly polarized far zone gain pattern.

 

The gain of the main beam is plotted in a two-dimensional line plot to determine the half-power beam width. The plot in Figure 4 indicates a half power beam width of approximately 42.5 degrees which falls between the two values provided by Stutzman and Thiele. Figure 5 is the full 2D slice at phi = 0 degrees. 

 

Figure 4: Half power beam width.

 

Figure 5: Total gain at phi = 0 degrees.

 

Reference

1. Stutzman and Thiele. *Antenna Theory and Design*. 2nd ed. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1998.

 

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