Investigation into the Impact of nonlinear response in magnetoelectric antennas on communication performance

Abstract Magnetoelectric (ME) antenna has been providing a potential solution to miniaturized and very low frequency (VLF) communications. Under high-field and resonant driving conditions, ME antennas exhibit strong dynamic nonlinearity. Existing research has primarily focused on the physical origins, characterization methods, and dynamic control strategies of this nonlinear behaviour, but studies on the signal distortion it may cause in modern communication applications remain insufficient. This research systematically investigates the nonlinear response of ME antennas and their manifestations in communication scenarios, with emphasis on three typical types of nonlinear distortions—harmonic distortion, intermodulation distortion (IMD), and amplitude/phase distortion. Our findings reveal that under high-field operating conditions, such mechanical antennas produce noticeable voltage-dependent amplitude modulation/amplitude modulation (AM/AM) distortion and amplitude modulation/phase modulation (AM/PM) distortion, leading to severe distortion in high-order quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). These phenomena will constrain the spectral efficiency and communication capabilities of ME antennas. In this study, spectral regrowth of 48 dB was observed, which can lead to severe interference with neighboring signals, thereby reducing out-of-band suppression capability. The results of this study provide a theoretical foundation and design guidelines for the practical application of ME antennas in high-speed communication systems, offering valuable insights for advancing their use in high-throughput communication applications.