Electric lines of force of an electrically small dipole-loop antenna array

Abstract

The electric lines of force of an electrically small dipole-loop antenna array have been determined analytically for both the near- and far-fields of the array. It has been found that the behavior of the families of electric contours are dependent upon a coupling parameter, which is the ratio of the loop and dipole sizes and currents. This parameter also controls the appearance (or not) and position of the points of equilibrium for the radiated field when analyzed in a real phase plane. The electric lines of force of the dipole-loop array exhibit increased directivity in the plane of the array when the coupling parameter is purely real, indicating that the respective dipole and loop currents must be in phase quadrature for this effect to occur.