UNIT- I and

II
 An antenna is an electrical conductor or system of
conductors.
Transmission - radiates electromagnetic energy into
space
Reception - collects electromagnetic energy from space.
In two-way communication, the same antenna can be
used for transmission and reception.
Provide Region of transition between guided and free
space propagation.
Concentrates incoming wave onto a sensor (receiving
case)
Launches waves from a guiding structure into space or
air (transmitting case)
 Electric
Field [V/m]
x Electric
field

Direction of Time [s]

propagation
y z
Magnetic
field Magnetic
Field [A/m]

Disturbance of EM field
Velocity of light (~300 000 000 m/s) Time [s]
E and H fields are orthogonal
E and H fields are in phase
Impedance, Z0: 377 ohms
 Reciprocity
In general, the various properties of an antenna
apply equally regardless of whether it is used for
transmitting or receiving.
Transmission and reception antennas can be used
interchangeably .
Medium must be linear, passive and isotropic.
Transmission/reception efficiency
Gain
Current and voltage distribution
Impedance
 Graphical representation of radiation properties of
an antenna.
Depicted as two-dimensional cross section.
Reception pattern
Receiving antennas equivalent to radiation pattern.
 3 dB, or Half-Power, Beam width
(analogous to the 3 dB bandwidth)
The beam width is the range of angles for which the
radiation pattern is greater than 3 dB below its
maximum value.
 Receiving antenna extracts power from incident wave.

Aperture S A
rec andin.beam
e area are linked as
2

Ae physical aperture
For some antennas, there is a clear
and an aperture efficiency can be defined A

Ae
Ap
 Power output, in a particular direction, compared to that
produced in any direction by an isotropic antenna.
Expressed in terms of effective area.

Related to physical size and shape of antenna.

Relationship between antenna gain and effective area.

4 Ae
G
2
G antenna gain
Ae effective area
f carrier frequency
c speed of light ( 3 x 108 m/s)
carrier wavelength
 Defined as the orientation of the electric field (E-
plane) of an electromagnetic wave.
Types of polarization
Linear
Horizontal
Vertical
Circular
 Vertically Polarized Antenna
Electric field is perpendicular to the Earths
surface.
e.g., Broadcast tower for AM radio, whip
antenna on an automobile.
Horizontally Polarized Antenna
Electric field is parallel to the Earths surface.
e.g., Television transmission (U.S)
Circular Polarized Antenna
Wave radiates energy in both the horizontal and
vertical planes and all planes in between.
circular

vertical

Electrical field, E
horizontal
 Beam Width 56Deg.

3 dB below maximum

The beam width is the range of angles for which the radiation
pattern is greater than 3 dB below its maximum value.
 Antenna presents an impedance at its terminals.
ZA RA jX A

Resistive part is radiation resistance plus loss resistance.

RA RR RL

The radiation resistance does not correspond to a real resistor

present in the antenna but to the resistance of space coupled
via the beam to the antenna terminals.
 Power received from antenna as from a black body
or the radiation resistance at temperature Ta is
termed as Antenna Temperature.
 Operating frequency and bandwidth
Sometimes frequencies and bandwidths
Input impedance (varies with frequency)
Radiation pattern (Gain)
Polarization
Efficiency
Power handling capacity
Size and weight
Fits into component packaging (aesthetics)
Vulnerability to weather and physical abuse
Cost