ANTENNA

An Antenna (or an Aerial), is an electrical device that converts electric power into
electromagnetic waves (or simply radio waves) and vice-versa.

. An antenna can be used as a transmitting antenna or a receiving antenna.

 A transmitting antenna is one, which converts electrical signals into

electromagnetic waves and radiates them.

 A receiving antenna is one, which converts electromagnetic waves from the

received beam into electrical signals.

 In two-way communication, the same antenna can be used for both

transmission and reception.

There are many types of antennas depending upon their wide variety of applications
Radiation Mechanism
When electric charges undergo acceleration or deceleration, electromagnetic radiation will be
produced. Hence it is the motion of charges, that is currents, is the source of radiation.( Here
it may be highlighted that, not all current distributions will produce a strong enough radiation
for communication.)

The radiation from the antenna takes place when the electromagnetic field generated
by the source is transmitted to the antenna system through the transmission line and is
separated from the Antenna into free space. A conductor, which is designed to carry
current over large distances with minimum losses, is termed as a transmission line.

In order to create radiation (electric field), there must be a time varying current dI/dt or
an acceleration (or deceleration) a of a charge q.
If the charge is not moving, a current is not created and there is no radiation.

A transmission line conducting current with uniform velocity, and the line being a straight
one with infinite extent, radiates no power.
If a charge is moving with a uniform velocity, there is no radiation if the wire is straight and
infinite in extent.
For a transmission line, to radiate power,

 If the current conduction is with uniform velocity, the wire or transmission line
should be curved, bent, truncated or terminated.
 If transmission line has current, which accelerates or decelerates with a time varying
constant (ie the charge is oscillating in a time-motion), then it radiates the power
even though the wire is straight.

 The device or tube, if bent or terminated to radiate energy, then it is called

as waveguide. These are especially used for the microwave transmission or
reception.

Radiation from a Single Wire: For a single wire antenna, there is radiation if the wire is
curved, bent, discontinuous, terminated, or truncated, as shown in Figure. If charge is
oscillating in a time-motion, it radiates even if the wire is straight.

Radiation from a Two Wire : A voltage across the two conductor transmission line creates an
electric field between the conductors. The electric field is radiated as free-space waves from
the open ends of the electric conductor. The radiation moves faster than the speed of light but
approaches the speed of light at points far away from the antenna

Reference: www.tutorialspoint.com www.crectirupati.com www.gvpcew.ac.in