5G • 5G-Advanced (Rel-18)
Circular Polarization in NTN
Right-Hand & Left-Hand Circular Polarization (RHCP/LHCP)
Uses circularly polarized RF waves to bypass Faraday rotation in the Earth's ionosphere and prevent signal fading as satellite orientation tilts.
Technical Explanation
Linearly polarized radio waves undergo severe Faraday rotation when passing through the Earth's ionosphere, causing signal cancellation at the receiver. Rel-18 NTN mandates Right-Hand Circular Polarization (RHCP) and Left-Hand Circular Polarization (LHCP) for satellite transmission, ensuring stable signal reception regardless of terminal orientation.
Key Functions
- Overcomes Faraday rotation induced by the Earth's charged ionosphere layer
- Maintains constant signal strength regardless of handset physical tilting angle
- Enables dual-polarization frequency reuse (RHCP and LHCP) to double satellite spectrum capacity
- Prevents polarization mismatch fading between orbiting spacecraft and ground users
Specifications
3GPP TS 38.101-5 (Rel-18)
Interfaces
Satellite Antenna Transceiver
Want to memorize 5G concepts like this one?
Study it with SuperMemo SM-2 spaced repetition flashcards.