Is a Propagating Infinite Plane Wave a "Radiation Field?"

Snider W Clint,Moore Robert C,Uman Martin A

doi:10.35840/2631-5068/6533

Abstract

The electric and magnetic fields of the Hertzian dipole, an infinitesimal time-varying current-carrying element with opposite charges residing at either end (via the continuity equation), are fundamental to the understanding of the fields of time-varying current and charge sources and, in particular, in solving for field patterns from current sources such as the half-wavelength antenna and various antenna arrays. That is, given the fields of the Hertzian dipole, one can sum (integrate) the fields of groupings of these infinitesimal current elements to determine the fields of any current source.

Highlights

The electric and magnetic fields of the Hertzian dipole, an infinitesimal time-varying current-carrying element with opposite charges residing at either end, are fundamental to the understanding of the fields of time-varying current and charge sources and, in particular, in solving for field patterns from current sources such as the half-wavelength antenna and various antenna arrays
Using the Hertzian dipole approach discussed above, there must be a set of infinitesimal current sources whose arrangement produces the plane wave pattern of eqs. (12-14)
The electric field of the radiating plane wave is composed of all three dipole fields components

Summary

Introduction

The electric and magnetic fields of the Hertzian dipole, an infinitesimal time-varying current-carrying element with opposite charges residing at either end (via the continuity equation), are fundamental to the understanding of the fields of time-varying current and charge sources and, in particular, in solving for field patterns from current sources such as the half-wavelength antenna and various antenna arrays. Given the fields of the Hertzian dipole, one can sum (integrate) the fields of groupings of these infinitesimal current elements to determine the fields of any current source. For calculating the fields of antennas on the order of wavelength size, the spatial integration of the fields of the infinitesimal dipoles, as noted earlier, need only involve the radiation fields of the source dipoles.

Results

Conclusion