Limitations of the pattern multiplication technique for uniformly spaced linear antenna arrays

Linear antenna arrays find wide applications in wireless communication systems. Typically, arrangements with uniform spacing between the array elements are applied to gain highly directive radiation patterns. Although the numerical capabilities of modern computing infrastructures allow the numerical analysis of complex modern antenna array configurations the so called pattern multiplication technique is still applied, especially within the numerical optimization of antenna array arrangements. In the present paper the limitations of this technique are investigated in terms of numerical analyses of typical array configurations.