Lecture 29

The Hertzian Dipole Antenna

In this lecture you will learn:

Hertzian dipole antenna

Gain and radiation pattern of an antenna

ECE 303 Fall 2005 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Hertzian Dipole Antenna - Review

A Hertzian dipole is represented by an arrow whose direction indicates the positive
direction of the current and also the orientation of the dipole in space
By assumption, the size of the dipole is much smaller than the wavelength of the
emitted radiation, i.e. d <<

r r
r
J (r ) = z Io d e j 3 (r )

I (t ) = Io cos(t + )
z

z
q(t)

I(t)
-q(t)

In phasor notation
x

Because d << , the current density associated with the dipole is represented
mathematically as a delta function with an appropriate weight

ECE 303 Fall 2005 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Radiation Emitted by a Hertzian Dipole - Review

r r
r
J (r ) = z I d 3 (r )

Need to solve for the radiated fields:

r r
r r
r r
2 A(r ) + k 2 A(r ) = o J (r )

Use the superposition integral form of the solution:

r r
r r
r r
J (r ')
A(r ) = o r r e j k r r ' dv '
4 r r '
r
r r
Id
Id j k r
A(r ) = z o r e j k r = z o
e
4 r
4 r
r r
Id j k r
A(r ) = r cos( ) sin( ) o
e
4 r

Working in spherical
coordinates

Find the H-field:

r r

r r

o H (r ) = A(r )

r r
j k Id j k r
1
H (r ) =
1+
sin( )
e

4 r
j k r

ECE 303 Fall 2005 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Radiation Emitted by a Hertzian Dipole - Review

r r
r
J (r ) = z I d 3 (r )

H-field was:

r r
j k Id j k r
1
H (r ) =
e
1 + j k r sin( )
4 r

Find the E-field:

Use Amperes Law:

r r
r r
r r
H (r ) = J (r ) + j oE (r )

Away from the dipole the current density is zero,

therefore:

r r
E (r ) =

j o

r r
H (r )

r r
j k Id j k r
E (r ) = o
e
r
4 r

Working in spherical
coordinates

2
1
1

2 cos( ) +
+
j k r j k r

1 +

1
1

+
j k r j k r

sin( )

ECE 303 Fall 2005 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Radiation Emitted by a Hertzian Dipole - Review

r r
E (r , t )

Near field region

(r << / 2)

r r
j k Id j k r
E (r ) = o
e
r
4 r

2
1
1

2 cos( ) +
+
j k r j k r

1
1
1 +
sin( )
+
jkr jkr

ECE 303 Fall 2005 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Far-Fields of a Hertzian Dipole

r r
r
J (r ) = z I d 3 (r )

r r
1
j k Id j k r
1+
sin( )
H (r ) =
e

4 r
j k r

r r
j k Id j k r
E (r ) = o
e
r
4 r

2
1
1

2 cos( ) +
+
j k r j k r

1 +

1
1
sin( )
+
jkr jkr

Far-field is the field far away from the dipole where: kr >> 1
(or more accurately where: d << /2 << r )

r r
j k Id j k r
Hff (r ) =
e
sin( )
4 r
r r
j o k Id j k r
Eff (r ) =
e
sin( )
4 r

E-field and H-field are in phase in the

far-field

ECE 303 Fall 2005 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Power Emitted by a Hertzian Dipole - I

The time average power per unit area going in the ( , )
direction radiated by the Hertzian dipole is given by the
Poynting vector:

r r
r r
r r r r
1
1
S (r , t ) = Re S (r ) = Re E (r ) H * (r )
2
2

r r r
r
1
Re Eff (r ) Hff * (r )
2

= r

o k Id
2 4 r

Can simply use the field expressions in the far-field:

r r
r
J (r ) = z I d 3 (r )

Working in spherical
coordinates

sin2 ( )

No radiation is emitted in directions given

by = 0 or = 180 degrees

ECE 303 Fall 2005 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Power Emitted by a Hertzian Dipole - II

The total time average power radiated by the Hertzian dipole is given by integrating
the Poynting vector over any closed surface surrounding the dipole:
Assume the closed surface to be a sphere for simplicity:
z

Prad

r r
r
= S (r , t ) .da

surrounding
sphere

2 r r
= S (r , t ) .r r 2 sin( ) d d

0 0

2
= o k Id
12

Note:
For the same current, more power is radiated if d is larger, i.e. if the size
of the dipole is larger.

ECE 303 Fall 2005 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Some Useful Characteristics of Antennas

Antenna Gain:
The gain G(,) of an antenna is defined as the ratio of the power density (i.e. power
per unit area) emitted radially outward in the (, ) direction to the power density in
the same direction radiated by an isotropic source that emits the same total power

G ( , ) =

r r
S (r , t ) .r

Prad 4 r

G ( , ) sin( ) d d = 4

0 0

Example: For a Hertzian dipole the gain is:

G ( , ) =

r r
S (r , t ) .r

Prad 4 r 2

3
sin2 ( )
2

Antenna Radiation Pattern:

The radiation pattern p(,) of an antenna is defined as the ratio of the gain G(,)
to the maximum value of the gain

p( , ) =

G ( , )
G max

Example: For a Hertzian dipole the radiation pattern is:

p( , ) =

G ( , )
= sin2 ( )
G max

ECE 303 Fall 2005 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Characteristics of a Hertzian Dipole Antenna

Antenna Gain:
For a Hertzian dipole the gain is:

G ( , ) =

r r
S (r , t ) .r
Prad 4 r

p ( , = 0 )

0
30

3
sin2 ( )
2

60

90

p ( , = 0 )

120

150
180

Antenna Radiation Pattern:

For a Hertzian dipole the radiation
pattern is:

p( , ) =
(degrees)

G ( , )
= sin2 ( )
G max

ECE 303 Fall 2005 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Characteristics of a Hertzian Dipole Antenna - II

Antenna Radiation Pattern in

3D:

p( , ) =

G ( , )
= sin2 ( )
G max

p ( , )

ECE 303 Fall 2005 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Radiation Resistance of Antennas

Antenna Radiation Resistance:
The radiation resistance of an antenna is found by equating the power radiated by
an antenna to the power dissipated in a resistor carrying the same current as the
antenna

r r
r
J (r ) = z I d 3 (r )

For a Hertzian dipole:

Prad =

12

k Id

I
For a Resistor:
I

Pdissipated =

1 2
I R
2

Circuit Model of a Hertzian Dipole

Radiation resistance of a Hertzian dipole:

Rrad =

= o (kd )2
2 6

Rrad

Prad
I

ECE 303 Fall 2005 Farhan Rana Cornell University

A Single Hertzian Dipole Antenna

p ( , = 0 )

0
30

r r
r
J (r ) = z I d 3 (r )

60

H
E

90

120

150
180

One is usually interested in only

radiation far-fields:

r r
j o k Id
Eff (r ) =
sin( ) e j k r
4 r

G ( , ) =

r r
j k Id
Hff (r ) =
sin( ) e j k r
4 r

p( , ) =

r r
S (r , t ) .r

P 4 r

3
sin2 ( )
2

G ( , )
= sin2 ( )
G max

ECE 303 Fall 2005 Farhan Rana Cornell University

A Single Hertzian Dipole Antenna Not at Origin - I

r r
r r
J (r ) = z I d 3 r h

r r
r r
J (r ')
A(r ) = o r r e j k r r ' dv '
4 r r '
r r
r r
o Id
jk rh
A(r ) = z
r re
4 r h

r
r

r
h

What if one has a Hertzian dipole sitting at some

arbitrary point?
r r

If one is interested in radiation far-fields only,

then assume:
r

d << h ,
<< r
2

r r
r
r r
rr r r
r r
rr
r r
r r
r .h
r h = r .r + h.h 2 r .h r .r 2 r .h = r 2 2 r .h = r 1 2 2 r r.h
r
So we get:

r r
A(r ) = z

o Id
jk rh
r re
4 r h

o Id
e
4 r

r
j k r r .h

Additional
phase factor

r
r r
j o k Id
Eff (r ) =
sin( ) e j k r e j k r .h
4 r
r
r r
j k Id
Hff (r ) =
sin( ) e j k r e j k r .h
4 r

ECE 303 Fall 2005 Farhan Rana Cornell University

A Single Hertzian Dipole Antenna Not at Origin - II

r r
r r
J (r ) = z I d 3 r h

r
r

Suppose: h = a x

Example:

r
r r
j o k Id
sin( ) e j k r e j k r.h
Eff (r ) =
4 r
r
r r
j k Id
Hff (r ) =
sin( ) e j k r e j k r .h
4 r

Note that:

r = sin( ) cos( )x + sin( ) sin( )y + cos( )z

Therefore:

r r
j o k Id
Eff (r ) =
sin( ) e j k r e j k a sin( ) cos( )
4 r
r r
j k Id
Hff (r ) =
sin( ) e j k r e j k a sin( ) cos( )
4 r

ECE 303 Fall 2005 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Two Hertzian Dipoles General Case - I

z

(
(

r
J1

r r
r r
J1(r ) = z I1 d 3 r h1
r r
r r
J2 (r ) = z I2 d 3 r h2

r r
h1 h2

r
J2
y

Can write the E-field and the H-field in the far-field directly:
r
r
r r
j o k I1d
j o k I2d

sin( ) e j k (r r .h2 )
Eff (r ) =
sin( ) e j k (r r .h1 ) +
4 r
4 r

r
r

j o I1kd
I

sin( ) e j k r e j k r .h1 + 2 e j k r .h2

4 r
I1

r
r
r r

j kI1d
I

Hff (r ) =
sin( ) e j k r e j k r .h1 + 2 e j k r .h2
4 r
I

Remember that:

r = x sin( ) cos( ) + y sin( ) sin( ) + z cos( )

ECE 303 Fall 2005 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Two Hertzian Dipoles General Case - II

z

(
(

r
J1

r r
r r
J1(r ) = z I1 d 3 r h1
r r
r r
J2 (r ) = z I2 d 3 r h2

r r
h1 h2

r
J2
y

Can write the E-field in the far-field as:

r
r
r r

j o kI1d
I

Eff (r ) =
sin( ) e j k r e j k r .h1 + 2 e j k r .h2
4 r
I1

Depends only on the

radiating properties of
the individual antennas
(ELEMENT FACTOR)

Depends on the relative

positions as well as the
relative current amplitudes
of the two antennas
(ARRAY FACTOR)
Describes INTERFERENCE
in the far-field between the
radiation emitted by the
two dipoles

ECE 303 Fall 2005 Farhan Rana Cornell University