Spatial correlations in adaptive arrays

A receiving array antenna can steer its main beam toward any direction by adjusting the complex weight in each element. However it cannot always steer one beam and one null toward two prespecified directions simultaneously with a single set of weights. The ability for an array to steer one beam and one or more nulls simultaneously is determined by five factors: 1) element positions, 2) orientations of elements, 3) antenna patterns of elements, 4) polarizations of signals, and 5) directions of the beams and/or nulls. A coefficient is defined, called spatial correlation, which includes these factors and completely characterizes array beam pointing and nulling. Its application to adaptive arrays is demonstrated. The adaptive array performance is dominated by this coefficient and can be improved by properly choosing the first three factors. Several examples on the selection of element placement in adaptive arrays are presented.