Signal Polarization
In the context of aerospace engineering, signal polarization refers to the orientation of the electric field vector in an electromagnetic wave, which is particularly crucial in the design and operation of antennas for satellite communication. Polarization can be linear (vertical, horizontal) or circular (right-hand, left-hand), and it must be properly matched between the transmitting and receiving antennas to ensure efficient signal transmission and reception. Mismatched polarization can result in signal loss, known as polarization loss factor (PLF), which can significantly degrade the performance of a communication system. In satellite communication, circular polarization is often preferred over linear polarization because it is less susceptible to signal degradation caused by Faraday rotation, a phenomenon where the polarization plane of an electromagnetic wave changes as it passes through the Earth's ionosphere.
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