Is |s21| measurement of a common mode choke meaningful to antenna systems?

A common theme among online experts is to measure, or ask for measurement of a common mode choke connected between the centre conductor of a VNA's tx and rx ports. That raises the question of whether |s21| with both ends shorted is meaningful, whether it in any useful way characterises the choke as a component of an antenna system.

Direct measurement of common mode current is not difficult, and it is almost always the best way to determine the effect of a choke on common mode current.

That said, analytical and simulation techniques can be of great value in the antenna design process, well before a prototype antenna is built.

An example choke at 7MHz

Lets perform an experiment using NEC to model the effect of a choke in a 7MHz antenna.

The choke used uses 11t on a FT-240-43 ferrite core. The values are from a calibrated model, values confirmed by measurement.

We will use NEC-4.2 with one of the scenarios detailed in the article Baluns in antenna systems, Model 4, but using the choke described above which has an impedance of 3175+j2502Ω at 7MHz.

Above is a simulation of the connection. Zcm of the choke in this case at 7MHz, 3175+j2502Ω, has been converted to an equivalent inductance and resistance to suit the simulator. (Note that the equivalent circuit it valid only for a narrow band, there is no simple wideband circuit equivalent for this ferrite cored choke (more later).)

Above is the simulation result, |S21|=-32.29dB.

Now the discussion online freely states or implies that this quantifies the extent by which the common mode choke will reduce feed line common mode in an antenna system.

But is that correct?

NEC model results

No choke

Above is the wire segment info for Model 4 for the segment which would contain the choke loading (but it is not there yet). The magnitude of Icm (0.69-j4.82mA) can be calculated to be 4.86mA.

One choke

Above is the wire segment info for the segment containing the choke loading. The magnitude of Icm (-0.3-j1.74mA) can be calculated to be 1.76mA.

So, the choke has changed common mode current in that segment by 20*log(1.76/4.86)=-8.8dB.

Wait a minute, that is nowhere near the |s21| figure of -32.27dB.

They aren't the same thing, |S21| does not simply imply the change in Icm using the choke. There is no theoretical basis to expect that it does, and the online experts are simply wrong in making the inference.

Two cascaded identical chokes

So, let's try adding two chokes in series.

Above is the wire segment info for the segment containing the choke loading. The magnitude of Icm (-0.2-j1.03mA) can be calculated to be 1.05mA.

So, the additional choke has changed common mode current in that segment by 20*log(1.05/1.76)=-4.49dB. That is about half the reduction due to the first choke.

The Icm reduction ratio is not a simple property of the choke as shown in the above cases, in this scenario an additional choke (at the same location) reduced current by about half that of the first choke.

Further experiments will show that the effect of a particular choke is highly scenario dependent. Simplistic linear circuit models that do not capture the coupled conducts as NEC does are not likely to give valid results.

Wider characterisation of the choke

Zcm

Above is the modelled choke common mode impedance Zcm components. As mention, the model is calibrated to measurement of an actual choke, and the model reconciles very well with measurement.

The R and X values in the graph can be inserted into an NEC model as load values in the common mode conductor path at the point of insertion of the choke. Such a model can show the current distribution with the choke loading, and model the effects on input impedance, gain, efficiency etc.

|s21|

s21 is a complex value (having both real and imaginary parts), and |s21| is the magnitude of s21, it is less information than s21, the phase angle has been discarded.

Above is a plot of |s21| calculated from the R and X plots given earlier.

It has been shown by example that you cannot infer the reduction in Icm due to a choke based simply on |s21|.

Can you use |s21| to model the choke in NEC similarly to what was done based on R,X?

R,X can be calculated from the s21 measurement of a choke, but it CANNOT be calculated from |s21| because the important phase information has been discarded.

Conclusions

In answer to the question Is |s21| measurement of a common mode choke meaningful to antenna systems?

  • |s21| does not directly infer the reduction in common mode current Icm that would occur with insertion of the choke;
  • |s21| cannot be used to determine the values for NEC to model the choke as a LD (load) element.