Slot apertures having depth and losses described by local transmission line theory

Abstract

The problem of electromagnetic penetration of a narrow slot aperture in a thick conducting plane is considered when the conductivity of the plane (and slot walls) is large but not necessarily infinite and when somewhat lossy gaskets are placed in the slot. The problem is partitioned into a local region, where transmission line theory is used to describe the antenna modes along the slot, and a nonlocal region, where a filament-type integral representation is used. The result is a modified Hallen-type integro-differential equation for the slot voltage (or magnetic current). The local transmission line theory allows the effects of wall loss and gaskets to be included in a simple and intuitive manner. Examples involving a rectangular slot aperture are given. The finite conductivity of the conducting plane, even for good conductors, reduces the penetration when realistic slot dimensions are used. Gaskets, even with relatively small loss tangents, also reduce the penetration when realistic slot dimensions are used. >