Microwave Theory &Antenna 21EC62
Module-4
Electric Dipole
Important Questions
1) Make use of pointing theorem derive the expression for
radiation resistance of short dipole with uniform current
2) Starting from electric and magnetic potential obtain the
far field components for short dipole.
3) Obtain the expression for field of dipole in general for the
case of thin linear antenna.
4) Find the radiation resistance of λ/2 antenna.
5) With diagram explain the concept of thin linear antenna
Short Dipole:
Short dipole is a thin linear conductor.
Length is L<λ
It has uniform current distribution on the entire length and is
given by
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Microwave Theory &Antenna 21EC62
Fields of Short dipole:
Let I is the instantaneous current flowing the dipole. The effect of current is
not felt instantaneously at a point P but only after an interval equal to the
time required for the disturbance to propagate over the distance r. Hence
I is given as
----------------------- (1)
Retarded current is given as [I]
---------------------- (2)
The disturbance at a time t and at a distance r from a current element is
caused by a current [I] that occurred at an earlier time (t-r/c).The time interval
r/c is the interval required for the disturbance to travel the distance r.
The retarded electric vector potential Az is given by
------------------ (3)
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Microwave Theory &Antenna 21EC62
If r>>L and λ>>L, the eq (3) is Simplified as
--------------------------- (4)
The retarded scalar potential V is given by
------------------------- (5)
Here [ρ] is retarded charge density, dτ is infinitesimal volume element.
Eq (5) is reduced to
-------------------- (6)
Since
--------------------- (7)
Substitution of (7) in (6) results into
--------------------------- (8)
S1 and S2 are given as
Substitution of eq (9) in (8) results into electric field eqs for short dipole as
below.
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Microwave Theory &Antenna 21EC62
Magnetic Field eqs: The magnetic field component of short dipole is calculated
by taking Curl of Az and is as follows
Far field components:
To find far field components of short dipole, 1/r2, 1/r3 terms in Er , Eθ and HΦ
expressions are neglected and hence Er component is negligible in far field.
The other components are written as
Field components of short dipole in quasi-stationary or DC or
low frequency condition.
Hint: To write eqs for low frequency conditions, replace the term
by q0 in general case eqs and keep max distance in
denominator.
In summary fields of short electric dipole
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Microwave Theory &Antenna 21EC62
Radiation resistance of short electric dipole
The average poynting vector is given by
For short dipole, the field components are Eθ and HΦ hence eq (1) can be
rewritten as
Since
Substitution of eq (3) in (2) results as
The total power radiated is given by
The absolute value of magnetic field is given by
Substitution of (6) in (5) results in
Equate eq (7) to Hence
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Microwave Theory &Antenna 21EC62
Simplification of Eq (8) for Radiation resistance Rr results in
Since
Eq (9) can be rewritten as
Special case: For a short dipole with no loading elements at the ends, the
current distribution will be non-uniform. For short dipole with non-uniform
current distribution radiation resistance is given by
Thin linear antenna
A linear conductor of diameter d<λ/100 is called thin linear antenna.
The current distribution is sinusoidal.
Is fed at the center by a balanced two wire transmission line.
The current distribution in various length thin, linear, center fed antenna is
shown as below.
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Microwave Theory &Antenna 21EC62
Far Field components of thin Linear antenna
Radiation Resistance of λ/2 Antenna
The average poynting vector is given by
For short dipole, the field components are Eθ and HΦ hence eq (1) can be
rewritten as
Since
Substitution of eq (3) in (2) results as
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Microwave Theory &Antenna 21EC62
The total power radiated is given by
The absolute value of magnetic field HΦ for thin linear antenna is given by
Substitution of (6) in (5) results in
Equating eq (7) to and simplifying for R0 results in
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