Electric Antenna Research Articles

Nanocomposite Embedded Electric and Magnetic Material Enhancing Antenna Radiation by Linear Relation in Radiators

The main and auxiliary radiating elements are linked by linear mathematical relation and coated with nanocomposite (NC) materials to enhance radiation characteristics. Nanocomposite-based electric material (NE) and nanocomposite-based magnetic material (NM) coated on auxiliary radiating elements to enhance the electromagnetic radiation of the proposed antenna. The radiating elements coated with NE graphene oxide (GO) and NM barium ferrite (BF) have higher electric field and magnetic field distribution respectively. The linear relation of main and auxiliary elements is verified by two substrates FR4, Teflon with correlated results. This proposed NC-coated antenna produces a bandwidth of 4.15 GHz, 4.02 dBi average gain and radiation efficiency of 95.17%, being superior to the antenna without NC coating. Fabricated antenna has 1.56–5.71 GHz bandwidth that includes 2.4/5.2 GHz WLAN, 2.5/3.5 GHz WiMAX, 2.4 GHz ISM, 5G SUB-6 GHz, 5G NR 78 and 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi bands.

Whistler Waves in the Young Solar Wind: Statistics of Amplitude and Propagation Direction from Parker Solar Probe Encounters 1–11

In the interplanetary space solar wind plasma, whistler waves are observed in a wide range of heliocentric distances (from ∼20 solar radii (RS) to Jupiter’s orbit). They are known to interact with solar wind suprathermal electrons (strahl and halo) and to regulate the solar wind heat flux through scattering the strahl electrons. We present the results of applying the technique to determine the whistler wave propagation directions to the spectral data continuously collected by the FIELDS instruments on board Parker Solar Probe (PSP). The technique was validated based on the results obtained from burst mode magnetic and electric field waveform data collected during Encounter 1. We estimated the effective length of the PSP electric field antennas for a variety of solar wind conditions in the whistler wave frequency range and utilized these estimates for determining the whistler wave properties during PSP Encounters 1–11. Our findings show that (1) the enhancement of the whistler wave occurrence rate and wave amplitudes observed between 25 and 35 RS is predominantly due to the sunward-propagating whistler wave population associated with the switchback-related magnetic dips; (2) the antisunward or counterpropagating cases are observed at 30–40 RS; (3) between 40 and 50 RS, sunward and antisunward whistlers are observed with comparable occurrence rates; and (4) almost no sunward or counterpropagating whistlers were observed at heliocentric distances above 50 RS.

Crafting very low frequency magnetoelectric antenna via piezoelectric and electromechanical synergic optimization strategy

A boom in exploration for marine geology and ocean resources has resulted in a huge demand for radio navigation or special environment communications, in turn spurring the rapid development of portable underwater wireless communication technology. State of the art acoustic communication methods used today are plagued by substantial transmission delays, multipath effects, and doppler frequency shifts, among other challenges, thus impeding the advancement of underwater wireless communication technology. Low-frequency electromagnetic transmission has proven to be a prospective solution for underwater communication, but the conventional electrical antennas is too large for portable underwater wireless communication. Emergent magnetoelectric (ME) antennas driven by piezoelectric materials have become a promising solution for miniaturizing very low frequency (VLF) communication systems. Here, a theoretical model between the radiation performance and piezoelectric material properties of the ME antenna was conducted. Guide by the theory analysis, Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3Pb(Mn1/3Sb2/3)O3Pb(Zr0.49Ti0.51)O3 (PIN-PMS-PZT) piezoelectric ceramic simultaneous with high d33 and Qm (d33 ∼ 401, Qm ∼ 1510) has been designed to enhance the magnetoelectric radiation of the VLF ME antenna. The PIN-PMS-PZT based ME antenna achieves a large converse magnetoelectric response 1.78 Gs⋅cm/V in EMR, which is almost doubled to commercial PZT based ME antenna. More importantly, a VLF communication system was built based on the VLF antenna, which successfully transmitted digital signals using Amplitude-Shift-Keying (ASK) modulation. It is believed that the presented work could provide a theoretical basis and feasible technical path for the employment of ME antennas in the future.

Impact ionization double peaks analyzed in high temporal resolution on Solar Orbiter

Abstract. Solar Orbiter is equipped with electrical antennas performing fast measurements of the surrounding electric field. The antennas register high-velocity dust impacts through the electrical signatures of impact ionization. Although the basic principle of the detection has been known for decades, the understanding of the underlying process is not complete, due to the unique mechanical and electrical design of each spacecraft and the variability of the process. We present a study of electrical signatures of dust impacts on Solar Orbiter's body, as measured with the Radio and Plasma Waves electrical suite. A large proportion of the signatures present double-peak electrical waveforms in addition to the fast pre-spike due to electron motion, which are systematically observed for the first time. We believe this is due to Solar Orbiter's unique antenna design and a high temporal resolution of the measurements. The double peaks are explained as being due to two distinct processes. Qualitative and quantitative features of both peaks are described. The process for producing the primary peak has been studied extensively before, and the process for producing the secondary peak has been proposed before (Pantellini et al., 2012a) for Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO), although the corresponding delay of 100–300 µs between the primary and the secondary peak has not been observed until now. Based on this study, we conclude that the primary peak's amplitude is the better measure of the impact-produced charge, for which we find a typical value of around 8 pC. Therefore, the primary peak should be used to derive the impact-generated charge rather than the maximum. The observed asymmetry between the primary peaks measured with individual antennas is quantitatively explained as electrostatic induction. A relationship between the amplitude of the primary and the secondary peak is found to be non-linear, and the relation is partially explained with a model for electrical interaction through the antennas' photoelectron sheath.

Radio frequency electric field-enhanced sensing based on the Rydberg atom-based superheterodyne receiver.

We present enhanced sensing of a radio frequency (RF) electric field (E-field) by the combined polarizability of Rydberg atoms and the optimized local oscillator (LO) field of a superheterodyne receiver. Our modified theoretical model reveals the dependencies of the sensitivity of E-field amplitude measurement on the polarizability of Rydberg states and the strength of the LO field. The enhanced sensitivities of the megahertz (MHz) E-field are demonstrated at the optimal LO field for three different Rydberg states ${\rm 43D}_{5/2}$, ${\rm 60S}_{1/2}$, and ${\rm 90S}_{1/2}$. The sensitivity of 63 MHz for the ${\rm 90S}_{1/2}$ state reaches 9.6 $\times 10^{-5}\rm \,V/m/\sqrt {Hz}$, which is approximately an order of magnitude higher than those already published. This result closely approaches the sensitivity limit of a 1 cm passive dipole antenna without using an impedance matching network. This atomic sensor based on the Rydberg Stark effect with heterodyne technique is expected to boost an alternative solution to electric dipole antennas.

Gain Enhancement and Ground Plane Immunity of Mechanically Driven Thin‐Film Bulk Acoustic Resonator Magnetoelectric Antenna Arrays

AbstractCompact, conformal antennas with ground plane immunity and high gain are crucial to IoT, 5G, and biomedical applications. Conventional electrical antennas suffer large size, detuned impedance, and degraded gain and radiation efficiency on a ground plane as they operate on electromagnetic resonance and use electric dipole for radiation. Utilizing electromechanical resonance, magnetoelectric(ME) coupling, and magnetic dipole radiation in magnetostrictive/piezoelectric heterostructures, ME antennas exhibit ultra‐compact sizes comparable to acoustic wavelength and enhanced radiation performance on a ground plane. This study first utilizes parallel and series antenna array topology to achieve a profound gain and radiation efficiency enhancement without degrading impedance mismatch and quality factor of ME resonators. Notably, by increasing the array element number, 10 dBi gain enhancement is achieved in 3 × 3 thin‐film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) ME antenna array, reaching a peak antenna gain of −17.3 dBi. Unlike conventional antenna arrays, ME antenna arrays enhance radiation efficiency without affecting directivity, owing to ultra‐compact dimensions much less than one‐quarter of electromagnetic wavelength. Their ground plane immunity and 3 dB gain enhancement on ground planes with different shapes are also demonstrated. The demonstrated ME antenna arrays are outstanding platform‐independent ultra‐compact high‐gain conformal antenna candidates for wireless communication, wireless power transfer, and portable electronic and biomedical devices.

Spectral Hardness of X‐ and Gamma‐Ray Emissions From Lightning Stepped and Dart Leaders

AbstractDuring the 2022 New Mexico monsoon season, we deployed two X‐ray scintillation detectors, coupled with a 180 MHz data acquisition system to detect X‐rays from natural lightning at the Langmuir Lab mountain‐top facility, located at 3.3 km above mean sea level. Data acquisition was triggered by an electric field antenna calibrated to pick up lightning within a few km of the X‐ray detectors. We report the energies of over 240 individual photons, ranging between 13 keV and 3.8 MeV, as registered by the LaBr3(Ce) scintillation detector. These detections were associated with four lightning flashes. Particularly, four‐stepped leaders and seven dart leaders produced energetic radiation. The reported photon energies allowed us to confirm that the X‐ray energy distribution of natural stepped and dart leaders follows a power‐law distribution with an exponent ranging between 1.09 and 1.96, with stepped leaders having a harder spectrum. Characterization of the associated leaders and return strokes was done with four different electric field sensing antennas, which can measure a wide range of time scales, from the static storm field to the fast change associated with dart leaders.

Partial discharge power flow in gas-insulated substations using magnetic and electric antennas

Partial discharge power flow in gas-insulated substations using magnetic and electric antennas

Electromagnetic optimization of piezoelectric ceramic and its application in mechanical antenna

AbstractMechanical antennas have garnered considerable attention due to their ability to address the challenges posed by the significant size and high energy consumption associated with traditional electric antennas when operating at low frequencies. Here, a compact and structurally stable mechanical antenna design is presented. The proposed antenna is constructed using cylindrical piezoelectric ceramics, which have dimensions smaller than 1/1000 of the wavelength. The scrutiny of the influence exerted by the antenna feed area and material thickness on the radiation performance was undertaken, followed by an exhaustive discourse on these effects. Experimental measurements demonstrate the practical functionalities of signal coding, transmission, and reception in the low‐frequency communication system. Notably, at a frequency of 288 kHz, a single proposed antenna achieves an effective information transmission distance of 60 m using binary information coding. This remarkable outcome underscores the potential of this design in facilitating the development of portable and cost‐effective wireless communication equipment for low‐frequency applications.

Array Study of VLF Thin-Film Magnetoelectric Antenna with a Microbridge Structure.

Recently, magnetoelectric (ME) antennas have become a hot topic in the field of antenna miniaturization in the very-low-frequency (VLF) band because their size can be reduced to one-ten-thousandth of the size of conventional electric antennas. However, they still suffer from narrow transmission/reception bandwidth and weak radiation intensity. To address these issues, VLF thin-film ME antennas with a microbridge structure are designed, and the method of array connection is used. Test results show that the detection limit of the ME antenna unit is 636 pT/√Hz at 23 kHz and the radiant magnetic field intensity at 0.12 m is 0.87 nT (input power of 10 mW). By series-connecting three ME antenna units with the same resonance frequency, the output response has been increased to 1.72 times and the EM wave radiation intensity is increased to 1.9 times compared to a single unit. By parallel-connecting two ME antenna units with different resonance frequencies, the output response bandwidth has been expanded to 1.56 times compared to a single unit, and the signal radiation bandwidth has been expanded to 1.47 times. This work provides a valuable reference for the future larger-scale arraying of ME antennas.

Source of Radio Emissions Induced by the Galilean Moons Io, Europa and Ganymede: In Situ Measurements by Juno

AbstractAt Jupiter, part of the auroral radio emissions are induced by the Galilean moons Io, Europa and Ganymede. Until now, except for Ganymede, they have been only remotely detected, using ground–based radio–telescopes or electric antennas aboard spacecraft. The polar trajectory of the Juno orbiter allows the spacecraft to cross the range of magnetic flux tubes which sustain the various Jupiter–satellite interactions, and in turn to sample in situ the associated radio emission regions. In this study, we focus on the detection and the characterization of radio sources associated with Io, Europa and Ganymede. Using electric wave measurements or radio observations (Juno/Waves), in situ electron measurements (Juno/JADE–E), and magnetic field measurements (Juno/MAG) we demonstrate that the Cyclotron Maser Instability (CMI) driven by a loss–cone electron distribution function is responsible for the encountered radio sources. We confirmed that radio emissions are associated with Main (MAW) or Reflected Alfvén Wing (RAW), but also show that for Europa and Ganymede, induced radio emissions are associated with Transhemispheric Electron Beam (TEB). For each traversed radio source, we determine the latitudinal extension, the CMI–resonant electron energy, and the bandwidth of the emission. We show that the presence of Alfvén perturbations and downward field–aligned currents are necessary for the radio emissions to be amplified.

Higher-Frequency Permeability Measurement by Harmonic Resonance Cavity Perturbation Method

A new combination of electric field antenna and coupling hole plates are introduced to extend the measurable frequency range of rectangular waveguide type harmonic resonator to evaluate complex relative permeability of magnetic composites by perturbation method from 18 GHz to 38 GHz (K/Ka-band). The noise suppression performance parameter ωμ”=2πfμ <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">0</sub> μ <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">r</sub> ” [kΩ/m] is useful to estimate the performance of magnetic powder composite sheets especially beyond 10 GHz range where relative permeability is as small as 0-2. The ωμ” exhibited the maximum of 166 kΩ/m at 27 GHz for a carbonyl iron powder composite sheet, and as high as 510 at 38 GHz for Sendust sheet. These values meet ωμ”≥100 kΩ/m criteria that some commercially available noise suppression sheets exhibit in their recommended frequency range. These performance match Sub-6 GHz band and 28 GHz band used for 5G telecommunication equipment.

Plasma line detected by Voyager 1 in the interstellar medium: Tips and traps for quasi-thermal noise spectroscopy

The quasi-thermal motion of plasma particles produces electrostatic fluctuations, whose voltage power spectrum induced on electric antennas reveals plasma properties. In weakly magnetised plasmas, the main feature of the spectrum is a line at the plasma frequency – proportional to the square root of the electron density – whose global shape can reveal the electron temperature, while the fine structure reveals the suprathermal electrons. Since it is based on electrostatic waves, quasi-thermal noise spectroscopy (QTN) provides in situ measurements. This method has been successfully used for more than four decades in a large variety of heliosphere environments. Very recently, it has been tentatively applied in the very local interstellar medium (VLISM) to interpret the weak line discovered on board Voyager 1 and in the context of the proposed interstellar probe mission. The present paper shows that the line is still observed in the Voyager Plasma Wave Science data, and concentrates on the main features that distinguish the plasma QTN in the VLISM from that in the heliosphere. We give several tools to interpret it in this medium and highlight the errors arising when it is interpreted without caution, as has recently been done in several publications. We show recent solar wind data, which confirm that the electric field of the QTN line in a weakly magnetised stable plasma is not aligned with the local magnetic field. We explain why the amplitude of the line does not depend on the concentration of suprathermal electrons, and why its observation with a short antenna does not require a kappa electron velocity distribution. Finally, we suggest an origin for the suprathermal electrons producing the QTN and we summarise the properties of the VLISM that could be deduced from an appropriate implementation of QTN spectroscopy on a suitably designed instrument.

Numerical Analysis and Validation of Characterization of Polydimethylsiloxane Using Hyper-elastic Constitutive Models

The most researched elastomer in recent years is polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which has several uses in various engineering industries. One of the PDMS’s key characteristics is its hyper-elasticity nature, which enables the production of sensors, flexible electrical circuits, transducers, and antennas. This study used the hyper-elastic constitutive models to predict the mechanical behavior of incompressible, isotropic, and hyper-elastic material PDMS under uniaxial tension. These models are curve-fitting tools that consist of strain energy density and stress functions. To pursue the analysis, a new formulation of PDMS substrate was proposed, and a tensile test was performed to evaluate its stress-strain behavior. The experimental data was implemented on various hyper-elastic models using Abaqus, like Mooney-Rivlin, Yeoh, Ogden, and reduced polynomial models. The goodness of fit of every model was evaluated by calculating R2 values. Consequently, among these models, the reduced polynomial model with 6 material constants possessed the highest R2 value (0.9936) and was considered the best-fit model among the other models. Furthermore, the material constants of this model were applied to the 3D dumbbell-shaped model of PDMS in Abaqus for its validation. The boundary conditions were applied on the model similar to the experimental setup, as 33 mm displacement on one end and the other was fixed with all DOF. For mesh quality and mesh sensitivity of the material, various mesh sizes with the linear formulation (C3D8RH) were utilized, and the best mesh size was selected to evaluate very close results with the experimental.

Wideband low‐profile magneto–electric dipole antenna stacked with patch and metasurface

AbstractHere, a novel low‐profile wideband and high‐gain magnetoelectric dipole antenna with metasurface superstrate is proposed. The magnetoelectric dipole antenna printed on single layer consists of a probe fed patch with four shorted patches arranged symmetrically. Gain enhancement is achieved by placing two side walls and metasurface superstrate with an air gap. Additional rectangular patch connected to the same probe is placed above the magnetoelectric dipole antenna within an air gap. This improves impedance bandwidth, gain and efficiency significantly. Overall profile of antenna is 0.15 λ0, which is lower compared to conventional magnetoelectric dipole antennas with a profile of 0.25λ0. The proposed antenna fabricated on FR4 substrate shows 57% of wide impedance bandwidth from 3.63 to 6.57 GHz with overall size of 1λ0 × 1λ0 × 0.15λ0. The maximum gain in the operating band is 10.2 dBi.

Ultra-high baud rate VLF magnetoelectric antenna based on Rosen-type composite

Long-wave antennas are extensively used in special environment communications, such as underwater and underground applications, but the huge size of traditional electrical antennas restricts their applications. The emergent acoustically excited magnetoelectric (ME) antennas is expected to solve the portability problem. However, the contradiction between the radiation intensity and modulation rate (i.e., baud rate) of ME antenna remains an obstacle to its development. Here, we propose a very low frequency (VLF, 3–30 kHz) ME antenna based on a Rosen-type magnetostrictive-piezoelectric ME composite, which collaboratively optimizes both radiation intensity and transmission rate. The radiation intensity and efficiency of the proposed ME antenna were, respectively, two and three orders of magnitude higher than those of a same-sized loop antenna. A VLF communication system based on the Rosen-type ME antenna utilized amplitude shift keying (ASK) modulation was demonstrated. The system achieved an ultra-high baud rate of up to 2 kbaud (i.e., 2 kbps bit rate), confirming the feasibility of this approach.

Ultrastructural changes of injured sciatic nerve after neurosurgical reconstruction and long-term electrostimulation in rabbits

Peripheral nerve injury is an extremely important problem during the war in Ukraine. In the overall pattern of injury, 5% of patients have peripheral nerve injuries and 1% have brachial plexus injuries. Under conditions of hostilities, this indicator increases to 70% or more. The victims are mainly young people of working age, which indicates the great medical and socio-economic significance of the problem. Materials and methods. The study was conducted on 28 rabbits Group 1 (n=7): suture of the sciatic nerve and implantation of the non-working antenna of the electrical stimulation device. Group 2 (n=7): sciatic nerve suture + implantation of an electric stimulator antenna in the same route as in group 1 and the beginning of stimulation on the 2nd day. Group 3 (n=7): sciatic nerve suture + implantation of an electric stimulator antenna in the same route as in group 1 and the beginning of stimulation 3 weeks after operation, when the first signs of regeneration occurred. Group 4 (n=7): autograft of the sciatic nerve + implantation of an electric stimulator antenna and the beginning of stimulation at a time point that will coincide with the beginning of signs of reinnervation of the effector muscle. Сontrol of regeneration was carried out in 12 weeks. The axial cylinder (AC) diameter, myelin thickness (MS) and MS/AC ratio were analyzed using electron mycroscopy. Results. It was showed a statistically significant increase of AC and MS indicators in the study group 2 relatively to comparison group 1, respectively, by 1.8 and 1.75 times. The increase of AC and MS in group 2, relatively to the comparison group and a visual decrease at the ultrastructural level of the number of destructively changed myelin sheaths (strengthening of reparative and regenerative processes) were detected. Conclusion. Therefore, long-term invasive electrostimulation of the damaged peripheral nerve has a positive effect on the regeneration of the neuromuscular complex.

Research on Channel Characteristics and Electrode Electrical Performance of Earth Current Field Information Transmission Technology.

Starting from the need for emergency rescue information transmission in tunnel engineering accidents, this article focuses on researching and solving the technical problems of information transmission between rescue personnel and trapped personnel after tunnel engineering collapse accidents, before and during the rescue process. The research objects are the information transmission channel and grounding electrode in the earth current field information transmission technology, and the electromagnetic characteristics of the earth medium and the electrical performance of the grounding electrode are studied and analyzed using the electromagnetic simulation software Maxwell based on finite element algorithm, establish a three-dimensional model based on the transmission of current field information of the ground electrode, analyze the effects of the electrode array, electrode depth, and radius on impedance. Research has shown that the impedance of the earth is related to the resistivity of the medium and is not a human-controllable factor. To reduce the contact impedance of an electric dipole antenna, one should start with the contact impedance of the earth electrode. The impedance of the transmitting end is an important factor affecting the efficiency of information transmission; parallel connection of multiple grounding electrodes, increasing the depth of grounding electrode penetration into the soil layer, and increasing the radius between grounding electrode pairs are all effective methods to reduce the contact impedance of electric dipole antennas, thereby improving information transmission capacity. To achieve wireless information transmission through the stratum, by appropriately selecting the operating frequency of electromagnetic waves, a certain distance of signal transmission can be achieved.

Dielectric Characterization of Heterogeneous Composites Using Time Domain Spectroscopy and Microwave Test Benches in Microwave Frequency

Dielectric composite materials made of polymers and ferroelectric ceramics have recently emerged as one of the important components for applications involving the generation, transformation, and storage of sustainable energy. Because there is a trade-off between dielectric permittivity, dielectric loss, and dissipation factor, the end use is the energy storage capacity. In the present study, epoxy resin (RE)/barium titanate (BaTiO3) composite samples are prepared using the mixture cast method with new molds. The dielectric properties, such as dielectric permittivity, dielectric loss, electrical modulus, static conductivity and dissipation factors due to the concentration of barium titanate and frequency effect on the composites, are examined using two characterization methods. The objective of this study is to determine the dielectric permittivity of the material using two microwave methods, the first is time domain spectroscopy (TDS) and the second is on the X-band microwave test bench (MTB). Additionally, different empirical mixture laws are used to estimate the dielectric permittivity of our composites. It is found that an increase in filler concentration (BaTiO3) increases the effective dielectric permittivity, which is confirmed with different empirical mixture models. The findings of this research can be used for electrical devices, including sensors, wave absorbers, resonators, and antennas.

Magneto‐Mechano‐Electric Antenna for Portable VLF Transmission

AbstractWireless communication has always been an indispensable element in the modern information‐based society. Beyond the commercial electrical antenna, very low frequency (VLF) mechanical antennas have recently become research hotspot since their combination of miniaturization and favorable radiation efficiency in lossy electrically conductive environments. However, their usage is challenged due to the relatively limited radiation capability and modulation bandwidth. This study demonstrates an improved high‐efficiency magnetoelectric (ME) mechanical antenna based on the magneto‐mechano‐electric (MME) effect, realized via the synergistic effect of piezo‐driven magnets motion and converse magnetoelectricity (ME). Converse ME coefficient and radiation measurement show that the MME antenna demonstrates superior performance over a normal ME antenna. The oscillation magnet serves as an extra vibrating magnetic dipole besides the ME composite and thus brings radiation enhancement to the mechanical antenna. Furthermore, digital signal modulations are conducted with a VLF carrier signal to enable anti‐interference and anti‐attenuation communication. In view of the exemplary demonstration, the MME effect‐based antenna is expected to provide a new strategy for mechanical antenna improvement and shows tremendous potential for conductive environments communication applications.