A Modified XPC Characterization for Polarimetric Channels

Models describing the polarimetric response of a multipath channel are considered. Conventional cross-polarization coupling (XPC) models are found to provide an ambiguous polarization representation and are sensitive to the receive antenna polarization configuration. These limitations are contrasted with polarization mode dispersion (PMD) models, which provide unambiguous frequency-dependent polarization characterizations. The XPC model is augmented using received signal power ratios associated with three orthogonally polarized antenna pairs. The revised model is shown to provide higher fidelity polarization characterizations. A comparison of the polarization behavioral models is illustrated using measured data from channel sounding experiments conducted in the 2.4-GHz industrial, scientific, and medical band in an urban propagation environment.