Characteristic Mode Configuration

A characteristic mode configuration results in a characteristic mode analysis (CMA) request. The analysis is based on the numerical calculation of a weighted set of orthogonal mode currents.

CMA gives insight into the fundamental resonant behaviour of a structure allowing you to follow a systematic design approach, making use of the parameters calculated with CMA, the modal current distribution and the modal weighting coefficients.


Figure 1. The first four modal currents and associated far field of a ring antenna with four slots bridged with excitation ports.

The currents are supported on conducting surfaces as well as dielectric and magnetic materials with MoM / SEP and apertures with the planar Green’s function.

Key parameters such as the resonance frequency of these modes and their radiating behaviour can be determined by studying the current distribution of these modes.