Antennas and Wave

propagation
Lecture 1

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

Antennas definition
An antenna is defined by Webster's Dictionary as
A useful metallic device (as a rod or wire) for radiating or
receiving radio waves
The IEEE standard definitions of terms for antennas
defines the antenna or aerial as

A means for radiating or receiving radio waves

In other words antenna is a transitional structure between
free-space and a guiding device
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

November 14

Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

Antenna

Form system point of view, an antenna is a transducer

that changes energy from one form to another
As a receiver it changes the energy from
electromagnetic to electric or magnetic energy
As a transmitter it changes the energy from electric or
magnetic to electromagnetic energy

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

EM energy

From electromagnetic theory:

The electromagnetic energy consists of two packets of
energy: the magnetic and electric (one does not exist with out
the other)
Half of the energy is in the electric-field and half of the energy
is in the magnetic-field. One gives rise to other.

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

November 14

Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

Transmission medium

The wave guiding device being an interface between

source and the antenna is called the transmission
medium and it can appear in the form of
A Coaxial cable OR a Waveguide (hollow pipe)

For transmitting antenna the transmission medium

transports energy from transmitter to the antenna.

While for a Receiving antenna the transmission medium

transport the energy from receiver to the source.

November 14

Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

Radiation resistance

From circuit point of view, the antennas appear to the

transmission line as a resistance, Rrad, called Radiation
resistance.
Radiation resistance is used to represent the radiation by
the antenna.
The radiation resistance is caused by the power radiated
from the antenna Prad.
Prad = I2 Rrad

OR

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Rrad = Prad
I2

Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

Radiation resistance

In effect, the radiation resistance represents the power

lost by radiation from the antenna (similar to heat lost)

The greater the radiation resistance, the more the

energy is radiated.

Radiation resistance is not related to any resistance in

antenna itself, but a Virtual resistance (does not exist
physically) that represents the radiation by the antenna.

November 14

Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

Transmission line Thevenin Equivalent

The antenna in a transmitting

mode can be expressed
as a Thevenin equivalent circuit.

Where
Vg = voltage source generator (transmitter)
Zg = impedance of generator (transmitter)
Rrad = radiation resistance (related to the radiation power
as Prad = IA2 Rrad )
RL = Load resistance (represent the conduction and dielectric losses)
jXA = antenna reactance
Antenna impedance: ZA = (Rrad + RL) + jXA

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

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Optimization of the antenna system

The antenna is said to be optimized when the energy

generated by the transmitter is totally transferred to the
antenna.
In ideal case, the energy generated should be totally
transferred to the Rrad.
However, in practical system the due to lossy nature of
transmission lines and antennas losses occur, such as;
Conduction loss, dielectric loss and losses due to
reflections (mismatch) at the interface between the
transmission line and the antenna.
Hence, energy generated is not totally transferred.

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

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Impedance Matching

Practically, it can be said that the system is optimized

(Maximum power is delivered to the antenna) under
impedance (conjugate) matching.
Conjugate matching condition:
RL+ Rr = Rc and
XA = -Xc

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

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Standing waves

The EM waves (incident waves) while passing through

the transmission line are reflected back due to mismatch.

Consequently, the reflected waves create constructive

and destructive interference patterns referred to as
standing wave, inside a transmission line.
This standing wave represent pockets of energy
concentrations and storage.
The losses due to the transmission line, antenna, and
standing waves are undesirable.

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

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Reduction of losses

How can we reduce the losses?

1.
2.
3.

Losses of Lines.
Loss in Antenna.
Standing waves.

By utilizing low-loss lines.

By the reduction of Loss resistance represented by RL
Through matching the impedance of antenna to the
characteristic impedance of the line. (Smith Chart)

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

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Radiation Mechanism (single wire)

Conducting wires are material

whose prominent characteristic
is the motion of electric
charges and the creation of
current flow.
Let us assume that an electric
volume charge density,
represented by qv (columbs/m3),
is distributed uniformly in a
circular wire of cross section
area A and volume V.

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

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Radiation through single wire

The total charge Q within volume V is moving in z

direction with a uniform velocity of vz (meters/sec).
It can be shown that the current density JZ (amperes/m2)
over the cross section of the wire is given by
Jz = qv vz
If the wire is made of an ideal electric conductor, the
current density Js (amperes/m) over the surface of the
wire and it is given by
Js = qs vz
where qs (coulombs/m2 ) is the surface charge density.

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

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If the wire is very thin (ideally zero radius), then the

current in the wire can be represented by
Iz = ql vz
where ql (coulombs/m) is the charge per unit length
If the current is time varying, then the derivative of the
current Iz can be written as
dIz = ql d (vz) = ql az
dt
dt
where d vz/dt = az (meter/sec2) is the acceleration. If the wire
is of length l, then
l dIz = l ql d (vz) = l ql az
dt
dt

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

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l dIz = l ql d (vz) = l ql az
dt
dt
This is the basic relation between current and charge,
and it also serves as the fundamental relation of
electromagnetic radiation.

According to this equation:

To create radiation, there must be a time varying current
OR an acceleration (or deceleration) of charge.

To create charge acceleration (or deceleration) the wire must be

curved, bent, discontinuous, or terminated.
Periodic charge acceleration (or deceleration) or time varying
current is also created when charge is oscillating in time
harmonic motion.

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

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Conditions for radiation

If a charge is not moving, current is not created and

there is no radiation.

If the charge is moving with a uniform velocity:

1.
2.

There is no radiation if the wire is straight, and infinite is extent.

There is radiation if the wire is bent, curved, discontinuous or
truncated.

If charge is oscillating in a time-motion, it radiates even

if the wire is straight.

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

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Wire configurations for radiation

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

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Example:
Pulse source

Load

By energizing the source, charges are accelerated in the

source-end of the wire.
At the other end of the wire deceleration of charges
occur due to reflection.
Due to accelerated and decelerated charges radiated
fields are produced at each end and along the remaining
part of the wire

Shorter or more compact duration pulses produces stronger

radiation with a broad frequency spectrum.
while continuous time-harmonic oscillating charge produces,
ideally, radiation of single frequency.

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

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Radiation mechanism (two-wires)

The guided wave traveling along a transmission line

which opens out tends to be radiated and tends to
launch a free space wave as the separation approaches
the order of wavelength or more
The guided wave is planer while free-space wave is
spherically expanding.

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

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a. Antennas and electric field lines

b. Antennas and free space waves

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Dipole (t=T/4)

The figure displays the lines

of force created between the
arms of a small center-fed
dipole.

These lines are created in

first quarter of the period,
and the lines have traveled
outwardly a radial distance
l/4.

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

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Dipole (t=T/2)

For this example assume

that the number of lines
formed are three.

During the next quarter of

the period, the original
three lines travel an
additional l/4 (a total of
l/2 form initial point)

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

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Types of Antennas

According to our desired transmission and reception

through antennas make them to vary in shape and size.

Some time, while transmitting through antenna directivity

of energy in certain direction is desired e.g. radio link.
Some time, while receiving energy through antenna
suppression at certain angle is required in order to avoid
interference.

This must then take various forms to meet the particular

need at hand, and it may be a piece of conducting wire,
an aperture, a patch, an assembly of elements (array),
reflector, a lens and so forth.

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Chapter 1: Introduction to Antennas

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