Quadrifilar Helical Antenna Design for Satellite-Mobile Handsets Using Genetic Algorithms

A circularly polarized quadrifilar helical antenna, operated at 2.4 GHz and intended for applications in satellite mobile communications, is designed using genetic algorithms (GA). The antenna was firstly considered as a test on an infinite ground plane and then optimized further on small size handsets. The performance of the optimized antenna design was analyzed using commercial simulators in terms of impedance match, axial ratio, and gain. Results for the optimal antenna met the design objectives subject to certain parametric constraints. The design shows the capabilities of GA as an efficient optimization tool for selecting globally optimal parameters to be used in simulations with an electromagnetic antenna design code, seeking convergence to specific design specifications