Lecture 8

EC 15-1702
Antennas and Propagation
Acknowledgement:
• Prof. C. A Balanis, Antenna Theory, Analysis and design, John
Wiley student edition, 3/e, (2012), ISBN:978-81-265-2422-8
• ieeexplore.ieee.org
• PhD Theses/Journals
• Other Sources…

Students are requested to refrain from using the learning resources outside this domain

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Module II

Radiation from an infinitesimal dipole

Total power radiated and its radiation resistance.
Radiation from half wave dipole
Radiation fields and its radiation resistance - near field and far field.
Small loop antennas
Antenna arrays:
Point Sources - arrays of 2 Isotropic Sources and N element point sources, , Principle of
Pattern Multiplication, Uniform Linear Arrays - Broadside Arrays, End fire Arrays

Ref: Balanis, Chapter 5 “Loop Antennas”

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Course Outcomes

On successful completion of teaching-learning and valuation activities, a

student would be able :

1. To understand basic terminology, parameters and concepts of

Antennas
2. To analyze the electric and magnetic field of various basic antennas
3. To study the performance of Antenna Arrays
4. To acquire knowledge on antenna types as well as their application
5. To understand the propagation of the waves at different frequencies
through different layers of atmosphere

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Loop Antenna - Geometries

Can be classified as electrically
small or electrically large

Based on circumference/ perimeter:

Small loop: C< λ/10

Large loop: C ∼ λ

(λ - free space wavelength)

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Loop antennas
• Loop antennas with electrically small circumferences or perimeters
have small radiation resistances that are usually smaller than their loss
resistances.
• Thus they are very poor radiators, and they are seldom employed for
transmission in radio communication.
• When they are used in any such application, it is usually in the
receiving mode, such as in portable radios and pagers, where antenna
efficiency is not as important as the signal to-noise ratio.
• They are also used as probes for field measurements and as directional
antennas for radio wave navigation.

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Radiation resistance of Loop Antennas
The radiation resistance of the loop can be increased, by
increasing its perimeter and/or the number of turns.

Or

Ferrite loop:
To insert, within the circumference or perimeter, a ferrite core of
very high permeability which will raise the magnetic field
intensity and hence the radiation resistance.

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A magnetic dipole of magnetic

moment Iml is equivalent to a small
electric loop of radius a and
constant electric current I0
provided that Iml = j ωµI0 S, where S
= πa2 (area of the loop).

Thus, for analysis purposes, the

small electric loop can be replaced
by a small linear magnetic dipole
of constant current

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Duality

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Infinitesimal Electric Dipole Duality

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Fields – W – P – Rr
W–U-D

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Power Density

When (5-22) is integrated over a closed sphere,

only its radial component contributes to the
complex power Pr.

For the small loop it is

inductive

For the infinitesimal dipole the radial

power density in the near field is
capacitive
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Small Loop Infinitesimal Electric Dipole

Even though the radiation resistance of a single-turn loop may be small, the
overall value can be increased by including many turns. This is a very desirable
and practical mechanism that is not available for the infinitesimal dipole.

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Small Loop Near Field Region

(Kr<<1)

Infinitesimal Electric Dipole

The two H-field components are

in time-phase. However, they
are in time quadrature with
those of the electric field.
This indicates that the average
power (real power) is zero, as is
for the infinitesimal electric
dipole
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Small Loop Infinitesimal Electric Dipole

As for the infinitesimal dipole, the E and H-field components of the loop in the far-field
(kr >> 1) region are perpendicular to each other and transverse to the direction of
propagation. They form a Transverse Electro Magnetic (TEM) field whose wave
impedance is equal to the intrinsic impedance of the medium
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Radiation Intensity

The normalized pattern of the

loop is identical to that of the
infinitesimal dipole
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Directivity
It is observed that the directivity,
and as a result, the maximum
effective area, of a small loop is
the same as that of an
infinitesimal electric dipole.

This should be expected since

their patterns are identical.

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Summary

• Electric Loop with axis along z axis is equivalent to a .................... dipole oriented along z axis
• Fields of Magnetic Dipole can be obtained from those of an electric dipole by applying ..................
• The dominant field components in an infinitesimal dipole are Eθ and Hφ, whereas in a loop
antenna they are …………………...
• The radial power density in the near field of an infinitesimal dipole is capacitive, while in a loop
antenna it is ……………………….
• Increasing the number of turns of the loop improves Rr, but also increases …………………..
• The patterns are similar to that of an ……………………….placed along the loop axis.
• ………………. Loops have improved Rr.
• Important applications of Loop antennas are in ……………………………………………

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Summary

• Electric Loop with axis along z axis is equivalent to a Magnetic dipole oriented along z axis
• Fields of Magnetic Dipole can be obtained from those of an electric dipole by applying Duality
• The dominant field components in an infinitesimal dipole are Eθ and Hφ, whereas in a loop
antenna they are Eφ and Hθ.
• The radial power density in the near field of an infinitesimal dipole is capacitive, while in a loop
antenna it is inductive.
• Increasing the number of turns of the loop improves Rr, but also increases Loss Resistance.
• The patterns are similar to that of an electric dipole placed along the loop axis.
• Ferrite Loops have improved Rr.
• Important applications of Loop antennas are in Measurement Probes/Direction Finding…

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