A Method for Tracking Characteristic Numbers and Vectors

A new method for tracking characteristic numbers and vectors appearing in the Characteristic Mode Theory is presented in this paper. The challenge here is that the spectral decomposition of the moment impedance-matrix doesn’t always produce well ordered eigenmodes. This issue is addressed particularly to finite numerical accuracy and slight nonsymmetry of the frequencydependent matrix. At specific frequencies, the decomposition problem might be ill-posed and non-uniquely defined as well. Hence an advanced tracking procedure has been developed to deal with noisy modes, non-continuous behavior of eigenvalues, mode swapping etc. Proposed method has been successfully implemented into our in-house Characteristic Mode software tool for the design of microstrip patch antennas and tested for some interesting examples.