Lecture 31

Wire Antennas

In this lecture you will learn:

• Generation of radiation by real wire antennas

Short dipole antennas

Half-wave dipole antennas
Three-half-wave dipole antennas
Small wire loop antennas – magnetic dipole antennas

ECE 303 – Fall 2006 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Center Fed Wire Antenna

Consider the following wire antenna fed via a transmission line:
z

r r
J (r ) = zˆ I (z ) δ ( x ) δ (y )
I
d x
Zo

If one is interested in radiation far-fields only,

then assume:
⎧ λ ⎫ r
⎨d , ⎬ << r
⎩ 2π ⎭
r r
r r µ J (r ') r r
µ ∞ I (z ' ) − j k rr − zˆ z '
A(r ) = ∫∫∫ o r r e − j k r − r ' dv ' = zˆ o ∫ r e dz '
4π r − r ' 4π − ∞ r − zˆ z '
Far-field approximation -
r r µ ∞
Aff (r ) ≈ zˆ o ∫ I (z ') e − j k (r − rˆ.zˆ z ' ) dz ' also called the Fraunhoffer
4π r − ∞ approximation
µo − j k r d 2 j k z ' cos (θ )
= zˆ e ∫ I (z ' ) e dz '
4π r −d 2

Recall that: rˆ = xˆ sin(θ ) cos(φ ) + yˆ sin(θ ) sin(φ ) + zˆ cos(θ )

ECE 303 – Fall 2006 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Center Fed Short Dipole Wire Antenna - I
Short dipole wire antenna fed via a transmission line:
z z Make an assumption for
the current distribution
λ d/2
Short dipole ⇒ d << on the antenna – a
2π triangular distribution
I
Zo d x I
I(z)
r r
J (r ) = zˆ I (z ) δ ( x ) δ (y )
- d/2

d 2
r r µ
Aff (r ) = zˆ o e − j k r ∫ I (z ') e j k z ' cos(θ ) dz '
4π r −d 2

µo − j k r d 2 λ
≈ zˆ e ∫ I (z ') dz ' Since: z ' < d <<
4π r −d 2 2π
µo Ideff − j k r A Hertzian-dipole-like solution
= zˆ e
4π r
d 2 d d
Where: I d eff = ∫ I (z ') dz ' = I ⇒ deff =
−d 2 2 2
ECE 303 – Fall 2006 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Center Fed Short Dipole Wire Antenna - II

Short dipole wire antenna fed via a transmission line:
z z
r r
λ d/2 J (r ) = zˆ I (z ) δ ( x ) δ (y )
Short dipole ⇒ d <<
2π
I
Zo d x I
I(z)

- d/2

{ }
The radiation from a short dipole looks r r r r r
1 r
like that from a Hertzian dipole except S (r , t ) = Re Eff (r ) × Hff * (r )
that d is replaced by deff 2
2
r r j ηo k Ideff ηo k Ideff
Eff (r ) = θˆ sin(θ ) e − j k r = rˆ sin2 (θ )
4π r 2 4π r
2π π r r
r r j k Ideff Prad = ∫ ∫ S (r , t ) .rˆ r 2 sin(θ ) dθ dφ
Hff (r ) = φˆ sin(θ ) e − j k r 0 0
4π r
η 2
= o k Ideff
12π
ECE 303 – Fall 2006 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Center Fed Short Dipole Wire Antenna - III
Short dipole wire antenna fed via a transmission line:
z z
r r
λ d/2 J (r ) = zˆ I (z ) δ ( x ) δ (y )
Short dipole ⇒ d <<
2π
I
Zo d x I
I(z)

- d/2
Antenna Gain: θ
0
For a short dipole the gain is: 30
r r
S (r , t ) .rˆ 3 p (θ , φ = 0 )
G (θ , φ ) = sin2 (θ )
60

2
=
Prad 4π r 2
90
Antenna Radiation Pattern:
G (θ , φ )
p(θ , φ ) = = sin2 (θ )
120

G max
150
180

ECE 303 – Fall 2006 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Center Fed Half-Wave Dipole Wire Antenna - I

Half-wave dipole antenna fed via a transmission line:
z z Make an assumption for
the current distribution
λ d/2
Half-wave dipole ⇒ d = on the antenna – a
2 sinusoidal distribution
I
d x
Zo
I(z)
r r
J (r ) = zˆ I (z ) δ ( x ) δ (y )

- d/2 I (z ) = I cos(k z )

r r µ d 2
Aff (r ) = zˆ o e − j k r ∫ I (z ') e j k z ' cos(θ ) dz '
4π r −d 2

µo − j k r λ 4 j k z ' cos(θ )
≈ zˆ e ∫ I cos(k z ') e dz '
4π r −λ 4
⎛π ⎞
cos⎜ cos(θ ) ⎟
µo I ⎝2 ⎠
= zˆ e− j k r
2k π r sin2 (θ )
ECE 303 – Fall 2006 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Center Fed Half-Wave Dipole Wire Antenna - II
Half-wave dipole wire antenna fed via a transmission line:
z z

λ d/2
Half-wave dipole ⇒ d =
2
I
d x
Zo
I(z)
r r
J (r ) = zˆ I (z ) δ ( x ) δ (y ) I (z ) = I cos(k z )
- d/2

⎛π ⎞
cos⎜ cos(θ ) ⎟
r r µo I ⎝ 2 ⎠
Aff (r ) = zˆ e −j k r
2k π r sin2 (θ )
This implies:
⎛π ⎞ ⎛π ⎞
cos⎜ cos(θ ) ⎟ cos⎜ cos(θ ) ⎟
r r j ηo I − j k r ⎝ 2 ⎠ r r jI −j k r ⎝ 2 ⎠
Eff (r ) = θˆ e Hff (r ) = φˆ e
2π r sin(θ ) 2π r sin(θ )

ECE 303 – Fall 2006 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Center Fed Half-Wave Dipole Wire Antenna - III

Half-wave dipole wire antenna fed via a transmission line: θ
z 0
Hertzian dipole
30
λ p(θ , φ = 0 )
Half-wave dipole ⇒ d =
2 60

I
d x
Zo 90

r r
J (r ) = zˆ I (z ) δ ( x ) δ (y )
120
Half-wave dipole
This total power radiated is:
150
2π π r r
Prad = ∫ ∫ S (r , t ) .rˆ r 2 sin(θ ) dθ dφ
180
⎛π ⎞
0 0 cos2 ⎜ cos(θ ) ⎟
G (θ , φ ) ≈ 1.64 ⎝ 2 ⎠
⎛π ⎞
2π π 2 cos2 ⎜ cos(θ ) ⎟ sin2 (θ )
ηo I ⎝2 ⎠ r 2 sin(θ ) dθ dφ
= ∫ ∫
0 0 2 2π r sin2 (θ )
⎛π ⎞
1.22 ηo 2 cos2 ⎜ cos(θ ) ⎟
≈ I p(θ , φ ) = ⎝ 2 ⎠
4π Prad sin2 (θ )
Rrad = 2
≈ 73 Ω
I 2
ECE 303 – Fall 2006 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Center Fed Three-Half-Wave Dipole Wire Antenna - I
z z Make an assumption for
the current distribution
d/2
Three-half-wave dipole on the antenna – a
⇒ d = 3λ 2 sinusoidal distribution
I
d x
Zo
I(z)
r r
J (r ) = zˆ I (z ) δ ( x ) δ (y ) I (z ) = I cos(k z )

- d/2

r r µo − j k r d 2 j k z ' cos (θ )
Aff (r ) = zˆ e ∫ I (z ') e dz '
4π r −d 2

µo − j k r 3λ 4 j k z ' cos (θ )
≈ zˆ e ∫ I cos(k z ') e dz '
4π r − 3λ 4

⎛ 3π ⎞
cos⎜ cos(θ ) ⎟
µo I ⎝ 2 ⎠
= − zˆ e− j k r
2kπ r sin2 (θ )

ECE 303 – Fall 2006 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Center Fed Three-Half-Wave Dipole Wire Antenna - II

z θ
3λ z p(θ , φ = 0 ) 0
d= 30
2 d/2

60

I
d x
I(z) 90

I (z ) = I cos(k z )
120
- d/2
150
180
⎛ 3π ⎞
cos⎜ cos(θ ) ⎟
r r j η I ⎝ 2 ⎠
Eff (r ) = −θˆ o e − j k r
⎛ 3π ⎞
2π r sin(θ ) cos2 ⎜ cos(θ ) ⎟
p(θ , φ ) ∝ ⎝ 2 ⎠
⎛ 3π
cos⎜
⎞
cos(θ ) ⎟ sin2 (θ )
r r j I ⎝ 2 ⎠
Hff (r ) = −φˆ e− j k r
2π r sin(θ )

ECE 303 – Fall 2006 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Home Made Dipole Antennas
A 1-5 GHz home-made dipole antenna for
Wireless LAN with a co-axial SMA RF
feed

Buddipole TM

A 16 ft dipole for 1-50

MHz radio

ECE 303 – Fall 2006 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Radars for Upper Atmosphere Research

49.92 MHz incoherent scatter radar at the Peru Observatory

The radar has an array of 18,432 half-wave dipoles !!
ECE 303 – Fall 2006 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Antennas for Mobile Consumer Products

A PCMCIA card antenna with two crossed short dipoles –

shown with the cover removed (for 2-5 GHz)

A short dipole antenna

integrated with a low noise
amplifier on a PC board for
mobile receivers
(4-8 GHz)
Radial stub tuners for
impedance matching

ECE 303 – Fall 2006 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Small Wire Loop Antenna – A Magnetic Dipole Radiator

Consider a small loop of wire carrying time-varying current:
r r
Small loop ⇒ a << λ/2π r r µ J (r ') r r
A(r ) = ∫∫∫ o r r e − j k r − r ' dv '
z r r 4π r − r '
r r' y r r µ 2π r
Aff (r ) = o ∫ φˆ' I e − j k (r − r .r ' ) adφ '
ˆ
4π r 0
a r φ'
ds ' Note that:
x
φˆ' = − xˆ sin(φ ') + yˆ cos(φ ')
I
r
r ' = xˆ a cos(φ ') + yˆ a sin(φ ' )
rˆ = xˆ sin(θ ) cos(φ ) + yˆ sin(θ ) sin(φ ) + zˆ cos(θ )
This gives:
r r µ Ia 2π
Aff (r ) = o e − j k r ∫ [− xˆ sin(φ ') + yˆ cos(φ ') ]
4π r 0
e j k a sin(θ ) [cos(φ ) cos(φ ' )+ sin(φ ) sin(φ ' )] dφ '
r r µ Ia 2π
Aff (r ) ≈ o e − j k r ∫ [− xˆ sin(φ ' ) + yˆ cos(φ ') ]
4π r 0
[1 + j k a sin(θ ) [cos(φ ) cos(φ ') + sin(φ ) sin(φ ')]] dφ '
ECE 303 – Fall 2006 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Small Wire Loop Antenna - II

a << λ/2π
r
r r
Aff (r ) ≈ φˆ
j µo k I π a 2 ( )
sin(θ ) e − j k r
z r 4π r
r r' y
r r
⇒ Eff (r ) ≈ φˆ o
η k 2 I π a2 ( )
sin(θ ) e − j k r
4π r
a r
ds '
φ'
x ⇒
r r
Hff (r ) ≈ −θˆ
k 2 I π a2 ( )
sin(θ ) e − j k r
4π r
I
Fields are proportional to the product of the current and the
area of the loop θ
π ηo p(θ , φ = 0 ) 0

Total power radiated is: Prad = (k a )4 I 2 30

12
60

Prad π
Radiation resistance is: Rrad =
2
= ηo (k a ) 4
I 2 6 90

G (θ , φ ) 120
Radiation pattern is: p (θ , φ ) = = sin2 (θ )
G max 150
180

ECE 303 – Fall 2006 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

N-turn Small Wire Loop Antenna

Consider a small loop of wire carrying time-varying current:

a << λ/2π r r
Aff (r ) ≈ φˆ
j µo k N I π a 2 ( )
sin(θ ) e − j k r
z 4π r

N-turns
y
r r
⇒ Eff (r ) ≈ φˆ o
η k 2 N I π a2 ( )
sin(θ ) e − j k r
4π r
a
x ⇒
r r
Hff (r ) ≈ −θˆ
k 2 N I π a2 ( )
sin(θ ) e − j k r
4π r
I
Fields are proportional to the product of the current and the
area of the loop
π ηo
Total power radiated is: Prad = (k a )4 N I 2
12 It is easier to obtain larger
P π radiation resistances with
Radiation resistance is: Rrad = = ηo N (k a )
2 4
small loop antennas
I2 2 6
(containing many turns)
G (θ , φ ) than with short dipole
Radiation pattern is: p (θ , φ ) = = sin2 (θ ) antennas of the same size
G max

ECE 303 – Fall 2006 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Electric Dipole Radiators Vs Magnetic Dipole Radiators
z z

d << λ/2π a << λ/2π

q(t)
d a
I(t)
x x
-q(t)
I(t)

q (t ) d
[ ]
r r
E nf (r , t ) = rˆ 2 cos(θ ) + θˆ sin(θ ) The magnetic near-field looks like
4π ε o r 3 that of a magnetic dipole

I (t ) π a 2
[ ]
r r
The electric near-field looks like Hnf (r , t ) = rˆ 2 cos(θ ) + θˆ sin(θ )
that of an electric dipole 4π r 3

r r
Eff (r ) = θˆ
j ηo k Id
sin(θ ) e − j k r
r r η k 2 I π a2
Eff (r ) = φˆ o
( )
sin(θ ) e − j k r
4π r 4π r
r r
Hff (r ) = φˆ
j k Id
sin(θ ) e − j k r
r r
Hff (r ) = −θˆ
k 2 I π a2 ( )
sin(θ ) e − j k r
4π r 4π r
ECE 303 – Fall 2006 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Wire Loop Antennas in Consumer Products

A 2 m loop antenna for 1- A 30 inch home made A 10 cm loop antenna

30 MHz operation multiple turn loop antenna with a feed

ECE 303 – Fall 2006 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Wire Loop Antennas in Medical Devices - II

A flexible “band-aid” chip

for wireless EEG
(Electroencephalography)
measurements at 2.4 GHz
with a loop antenna

A flexible “band-aid” chip

for wireless EMG
(Electromyography)
measurements at 433 MHz
with a loop antenna

ECE 303 – Fall 2006 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Wire Loop Antennas for Everybody - III

A portable loop
antenna for 5-10
MHz operation
on somebody’s
van

A home made
loop antenna in
somebody’s
backyard

Mine is bigger – says this guy!

ECE 303 – Fall 2006 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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