Solutions 2 – Fundamentals Antennas and Propagation, Frühjahrssemester 2010

Problem 2.1 :
Find the far-field distance for an antenna with maximum dimension of 1 m and operating
frequency of 900 MHz.

c
Largest dimension of the antenna: D = 1m : f = 900 MHz ⇒ λ= = 0.33 m
f
2D 2 2 ( 1 )2
Far-field distance is given by: d f = = = 6m
λ 0.333

That is, far-field starts at 6 m distance and extends to infinity.

Solutions 2 – Fundamentals Antennas and Propagation, Frühjahrssemester 2010

Problem 2.2 :
An aperture antenna is radiating in free space. The dimensions of the aperture are
a = 7.112 mm and b = 3.556 mm.
a) What are the three field regions of this antenna?
b) Determine the boundaries of these regions.

D b

a = 7.112 mm, b = 3.556 mm ⇒ D = 7.951 × 10-3 m a

Reactive near-field region:

(7.951 × 10 ) = 4.396 × 10
3
−3 −4
D3
R < R1, where R1 = 0.62 = 0.62
λ λ λ (m)

Radiating near-field (Fresnel) region

2D 2 1.264 × 10−4
R1 ≤ R < R2 , where R2 = =
λ λ m ()
Far-field region
R ≥ R2
Solutions 2 – Fundamentals Antennas and Propagation, Frühjahrssemester 2010

Problem 2.3 :
A circular disc is lying in the plane y = 0.6, whereas its center lies on the y-axis. The radius
of the disc is r = 0.3.
a) Calculate the solid angle covered by this disc seen from the origin of the coordinate
system.
b) Calculate the solid angle covered by this disc, if it is lying in the plane y = 30.

a)
The solid angle Ω which is covered by a certain object seen from the origin is given by:
A
Ω = 2 , where A stands for the surface of the sphere area “shadowed” by the object, and r
r
denotes the distance to the origin.
y

0.6 m h

r
0.6 m
a
α

z x

The solid angle covered by the disc is calculated by using the formula to calculate the surface
of a spherical calotte (Kugelhaube), which is given by A = 2π rh , where h is the height of
the calotte (as shown in the figure above):
0.3 ⎡ ⎛ 0.3 ⎞ ⎤ 2π rh
α = arctan = 26.6° , h = r − r cos α = r ⎢1 − cos ⎜ arctan ⎟ ⎥ = 0.11 r , Ω = 2 = 0.66 sr
0.6 ⎣ ⎝ 0.6 ⎠ ⎦ r
Considering that “all directions” (full sphere) corresponds to 4π sr, this solid angle equals
about 1/19 of a full sphere.

b)
The exact solution using the above formulas yields: α = 0.57°, h = 0.000’05, Ω = 0.000’314.
An approximate formula can be used if the distance of the disc is large compared to its
r2 π
radius; then the surface angle is approximately given by: Ω = disc2 = 3.14 × 10−4
r
Solutions 2 – Fundamentals Antennas and Propagation, Frühjahrssemester 2010

Problem 2.4 :
The power radiated by a lossless antenna is 10 Watts. The directional characteristics of the
antenna are represented by the radiation intensity of
U = B0 cos3 θ (W/sr) 0 ≤ θ ≤ π/2, 0 ≤ φ ≤ 2π
a) Find the maximum power density (in watts per square meter) at a distance of 1000 m
(assume far field distance). Specify the angle where this occurs.
b) Find the directivity of the antenna (dimensionless and in dB).
c) Calculate the half-power beamwidth (HPBW).
d) Find the first-null beamwidth (FNBW).

a)
π π
2π 2 2π 2

∫ ∫ U sin θ ⋅ dθ ⋅ dφ = B0 ⋅ ∫ ∫ cos θ ⋅ sinθ ⋅ dθ ⋅ dφ

3
Prad =
φ =0 θ =0 φ =0 θ =0
π
⎛ cos 4 θ ⎞ 2
π 20
Prad = 2π B0 ⎜ ⎟ = ⋅ B0 = 10 ⇒ B0 = = 6.3662
⎝ 4 ⎠ 2 π
0

Æ U (θ ) = B0 cos3 θ = 6.3662 cos3 θ

U 6.3662 6.3662
W= 2
= 2
cos3 θ = cos3 θ = 6.3662 × 10−6 ⋅ cos3 θ
r r 1000 2
Wmax = W cos θ =1 = 6.3662 × 10 −6 Watts/m 2 @ θ = 0

b)
4π U max 4π ⋅ 6.3662
D0 = = = 8 = 9.03 dB
Prad 10

c)
1 ⎛ 1⎞
The radiation half-power occurs when : cos3 θ = ⇒ θ1 = cos−1 ⎜ 3⎟ = 37.5° = 0.21π
2 θ =θ1 ⎝ 2⎠
The half power beamwidth is given as : Θ1d = 2θ1 = 0.42π = 74.9° . The pattern is
independent on φ, thus HPBW in a plane at right angle to the first one is Θ 2 d = Θ1d . The
directivity can be estimated using an approximate formula (see lecture slides) as
41, 253 41, 253
D0 = = = 7.35 = 8.66 dB . This compares quite well with the result of (b).
Θ1d Θ2 d 74.9 ⋅ 74.9

d)
π
cos3 θ = 0 ⇒ θ2 = = 90o ⇒ FNBW = 180°
θ =θ 2 2
Solutions 2 – Fundamentals Antennas and Propagation, Frühjahrssemester 2010

Problem 2.5 :
The normalized radiation intensity of a given antenna is given by:
1. U 1 = sin θ ⋅ sin φ
2. U 2 = sin θ ⋅ sin2 φ
3. U 3 = sin2 θ ⋅ sin φ
The intensity exists only in 0D ≤ θ ≤ 180D , 0D ≤ φ ≤ 180D region, and is zero elsewhere.
a) Find the exact directivity (dimensionless and in dB).
b) Find the Azimuthal and elevation plane half-power beamwidths (in degrees).
c) Find the directivity by using approximate formulas.

a)
4π U max
D1,2,3 = where Umax = 1, and it occurs when θ = φ = π / 2 (in all 3 cases 1,2,3)
Prad ,1,2,3
π π π π
π 4π (1)
∫ ∫ U sin θ dθ dφ = φ∫ sin φ dφ ⋅ θ∫ sin θ dθ = 2 ⋅ = π , D1 =
2
Prad ,1 = = 4 = 6.02 dB
φ θ
=0 =0 =0 =0
2 π
π π π π
π π 16
∫ ∫ U sin θ dθ dφ = ∫ sin 2 φ dφ ⋅ ∫ sin θ dθ =
2
Prad ,2 = ⋅ , D2 = = 5.09 = 7.07 dB
φ θ
=0 =0 φ=0 θ =0
2 2 π
π π π π
4 3π
∫ ∫ U sin θ dθ dφ = ∫ sin φ dφ ⋅ ∫θ sin θ dθ = 2 ⋅
3
Prad ,3 = , D3 = = 4.71 = 6.73 dB
φ θ
=0 =0 φ=0 =0
3 2

using

b)
The half-power beamwidths are equal to

HPBW1, azimuth = 2 ⋅ ( 900 − sin −1 (1/ 2) ) = 1200 HPBW1,elevation = 2 ⋅ ( 900 − sin −1 (1/ 2) ) = 1200

(
HPBW2,azimuth = 2 ⋅ 900 − sin −1 (1/ 2) = 900 ) HPBW2,elevation = 2 ⋅ ( 900 − sin −1 (1/ 2) ) = 1200

HPBW3,azimuth = 2 ⋅ ( 900 − sin −1 (1/ 2) ) = 1200 ( )

HPBW3,elevation = 2 ⋅ 900 − sin −1 (1/ 2) = 900

c)
41253 72815
Directivity using approx. formulas ( D1,2,3 ≈ , D1,2,3 ≈ 2 2
):
Θazimuth ⋅ Θelevation Θazimuth + Θelevation

This gives for case 1 (HPBWs of 120º,120º) : D ≈ 2.86 = 4.6 dB and D ≈ 2.53 = 4.0 dB
It gives for cases 2,3 (HPBWs of 90º,120º) : D ≈ 3.82 = 5.8 dB and D ≈ 3.24 = 5.1 dB
Solutions 2 – Fundamentals Antennas and Propagation, Frühjahrssemester 2010

Problem 2.6 :
The maximum of the radiation pattern of a horn antenna is +20 dB, while maximum of its
first side-lobe is -15 dB. What is the difference between the two maxima
a) in dB,
b) as a ratio of the field intensities.

a)
Difference = 20 dB – (-15) dB = 35 dB

b)
Emax Emax
20 log10 = 35 ⇒ log10 = 1.75
Esl Esl
Emax
= 101.75 = 56.234
Esl
Solutions 2 – Fundamentals Antennas and Propagation, Frühjahrssemester 2010

Problem 2.7 :
The normalized far-zone field pattern of an antenna is given by
⎧⎪ 1/ 2 π 3π
⎪⎪( sin θ ⋅ cos2 φ ) 0 ≤ θ ≤ π, 0≤φ≤ and ≤ φ ≤ 2π
E =⎨ 2 2
⎪⎪ 0 elsewhere
⎪⎩
where the E-field vector points in z-direction.
a) Find the directivity using the exact expression.
b) Find HPBWs of E- and H-planes of the antenna.

Using free-space wave impedance η = 120π Ω ,

2
E 1 1 π
U= = sin θ cos 2 φ Æ U max = for θ = and φ = 0
2η 2η 2η 2

a)
π /2 π π /2 π
1 1 π π π2
Prad = 2 ∫ ∫ U sin θ ⋅ dθ ⋅ dφ = 2 ∫ ∫ sin θ ⋅ cos φ ⋅ dθ ⋅ dφ = ⋅ ⋅ =
2 2

φ =0 θ =0 φ =0 θ =0
2η η 4 2 8η
1
4π
4πU max 2η 16
D0 = = = = 5.09 = 7.07 dB
Prad π2
π
8η

b)
Maximum of the beam is directed along the x-axis, with E-field pointing in z-direction.
Therefore, E-plane is elevation plane ( φ = 0 ) and H-plane is azimuthal plane ( θ = π 2 ).

E-plane HPBW: φ = 0 :

sin θ U 1
U (θ ) = , = sin θ = Æ θ HPBW , E = 30o Æ HPBW , E = 2(900 − 300 ) = 1200
2η U max 2

H-plane HPBW: θ = π 2 :

cos 2 φ U 1
U (φ ) = , = cos 2 φ = Æ θ HPBW , H = 45o Æ HPBW , H = 2 ⋅ 450 = 900
2η U max 2