Problems

A symmetric and very thin dipole antenna which works at frequency ω is

placed in a homogeneous environment with permittivity and permeability
of ε and μ. It can be shown that the antenna has approximately the
following sinusoidal current distribution.

𝑙 𝑙
𝐼° sin(𝛽( − 𝑧) 0≤𝑧≤
2 2
𝐼(𝑧) = [ 𝑙 𝑙 ]
𝐼° sin(𝛽( + 𝑧) − ≤𝑧≤0
2 2

2𝜋
Where, 𝐼° is the current amplitude at the feed point of the antenna, 𝛽 =
𝜆

, 𝜆 is the wavelength of the radiating wave, (𝑙) is the total length of the
antenna.

Sketch approximately the current distribution for

𝜆
a. Half-wave dipole antenna (𝑙= )
2
b. Full-wave dipole antenna (𝑙=λ)
3𝜆
c. (𝑙= )
2
d. (𝑙=2λ)

Solution
𝜆
a. Half-wave dipole antenna (𝑙= )
2

𝜆 2𝜋
Substance (𝑙= ), 𝛽 =
2 𝜆

𝑙 𝑙
𝐼(𝑧) = 𝐼° sin(𝛽( ± 𝑧) = 𝐼° sin(𝛽 ± 𝛽𝑧)
2 2
𝜆
2𝜋 (2)
𝐼(𝑧) = 𝐼° sin( ( ± 𝑧)
𝜆 2
𝜋
𝐼(𝑧) = 𝐼° sin( ± 𝛽𝑧)
2
𝐼(𝑧) = 𝐼° cos(𝛽𝑧)
𝜆
1-At the end (z= ) (note that at the end the current must equal to zero)
4
2𝜋 𝜆 𝜋
𝐼(z=𝜆) = 𝐼° cos( ∗ ) = 𝐼° cos ( ) = 0
4
𝜆 4 2

2-At the center (z=0) (note that at the center not necessary the current must
equal to maximum value in all finite antenna case)

2𝜋
𝐼(z=0) = 𝐼° cos( ∗ 0) = 𝐼° cos(0) = 𝐼°
𝜆
The final current distribution for half wave dipole is

b. full-wave dipole antenna (𝑙=𝜆)

2𝜋
Substance (𝑙=𝜆), 𝛽 =
𝜆

𝑙 𝑙
𝐼(𝑧) = 𝐼° sin(𝛽( ± 𝑧) = 𝐼° sin(𝛽 ± 𝛽𝑧)
2 2
2𝜋 (𝜆)
𝐼(𝑧) = 𝐼° sin( ( ± 𝑧)
𝜆 2
𝐼(𝑧) = 𝐼° sin(π ± 𝛽𝑧)
𝐼(𝑧) = 𝐼° sin(𝛽𝑧)
𝜆
1-At the end (z= )
2
2𝜋 𝜆
𝐼(z=𝜆) = 𝐼° sin( ∗ ) = 𝐼° sin(𝜋) = 0
2
𝜆 2
2-At the center (z=0)

2𝜋
𝐼(z=0) = 𝐼° sin( ∗ 0) = 𝐼° sin(0) = 0
𝜆
𝜆
2-At the (z= )
4

2𝜋 𝜆 𝜋
𝐼 𝜆 = 𝐼° sin( ∗ ) = 𝐼° sin ( ) = 𝐼°
(z= )
4 𝜆 4 2

The final current distribution for full wave dipole is

3𝜆
Homework c. (𝑙= ) d. (𝑙=2λ)
2

Finally this sketch of Current distributions along different length of a

linear wire antenna can help you
How to sketch the electric field pattern for finite length dipole
The general electric field expression for finite length dipole is

So for example to drive the electric field pattern of dipole antenna with
3𝜆 3𝜆
length (𝑙= ) [ 𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑜𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑒]
2 4

𝛽𝑙 𝛽𝑙
𝐼° 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑟 cos( 2 cos 𝜃 − cos( 2 )
𝐸𝜃 = 𝑗𝜂 [ ]
2𝜋𝑟 sin 𝜃

3𝜆 2𝜋
Substance (𝑙= ), 𝛽 =
2 𝜆

2𝜋 3𝜆 2𝜋 3𝜆
( ∗ ) ( ∗ )
cos( 𝜆 2 cos 𝜃) − cos( 𝜆 2 )
𝐼° 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑟 2 2
𝐸𝜃 = 𝑗𝜂
2𝜋𝑟 sin 𝜃
[ ]
3𝜋 3π
𝐼° 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑟 cos( 2 cos 𝜃) − cos( 2 )
𝐸𝜃 = 𝑗𝜂 [ ]
2𝜋𝑟 sin 𝜃

3𝜋
𝐼° 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑟 cos( 2 cos 𝜃)
𝐸𝜃 = 𝑗𝜂 [ ]
2𝜋𝑟 sin 𝜃

Find the maximum

3𝜋
cos( cos 𝜃) = 1
2
3𝜋 3𝜋
cos 𝜃 = 0, 𝜋, 3𝜋, 5𝜋 … … . (Divide on )
2 2

2
cos 𝜃 = 0, , 2
3
 2
𝜃 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 (0), 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 ( )
3
𝜃 = 90° , 48.2°

Find the minimum

3𝜋
cos( cos 𝜃) = 0
2
3𝜋 𝜋 3𝜋 5𝜋 3𝜋
cos 𝜃 = , , , … … . (Divide on )
2 2 2 2 2

1 5
cos 𝜃 = , 1,
3 3
1
𝜃 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 ( ) , 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 (1)
3
𝜃 = 70.5° , 0°