Magnetic Loop Antenna Research Articles

Comparison of anomalies in the VLF spectrum of the natural electromagnetic field with data from the seismometer in a landslide-affected area

The data from a permanent monitoring station, based on a sound card as an AD/DA converter and a magnetic loop antenna for continuous recording of electromagnetic field intensities in the Very Low Frequency (VLF) range, were recorded and compared with data from a seismic station based on Raspberry Pi located in a landslide-affected area. The stations operated 24/7 and were placed in a room below ground level. Correlations were observed between seismic signals in the frequency spectrum from 0.1 Hz to 10 Hz (some extending beyond 20 Hz) and anomalies in the electromagnetic field in the VLF range. These anomalies are likely associated with micro-fracturing, piezo-electromagnetic, and triboelectric phenomena within the landslide body, producing relatively weak VLF emissions and a faint seismic signal. A single-component 4.5 Hz 395 Ohm vertical Racotech RGI-20DX geophone with electronic extension to lower frequencies (< 1 Hz) was used with a sampling rate of 100 sps (samples per second). VLF emissions cover almost the entire spectrum from 6 kHz with a peak at 14 kHz to 18 kHz. The received spectrum was divided into following sections: VLF band 4 kHz – 6 kHz; 6 kHz – 8 kHz; 8 kHz – 10 kHz; 10 kHz – 12 kHz; 12 kHz – 14 kHz; 14 kHz – 16 kHz; 16 kHz – 18 kHz. Simultaneously, there were changes in these sections analysed and compared with the seismic record within the same time interval.

A Strong Pulsing Nature of Negative Intracloud Dart Leaders Accompanied by Regular Trains of Microsecond‐Scale Pulses

AbstractWe report the first observations of negative intracloud (IC) dart‐stepped leaders accompanied by regular trains of microsecond‐scale pulses, simultaneously detected by shielded broadband magnetic loop antennas and the radio telescope Low Frequency Array (LOFAR). Four investigated pulse trains occurred during complicated IC flashes on 18 June 2021, when heavy thunderstorms hit the Netherlands. The pulses within the trains are unipolar, a few microseconds wide, and with an average inter‐pulse interval of 5–7 μs. The broadband pulses perfectly match energetic, regularly distributed, and relatively isolated bursts of very high frequency sources localized by LOFAR. All trains were generated by negative dart‐stepped leaders propagating at a lower speed than usual dart leaders. They followed channels of previous leaders occurring within the same flash several tens of milliseconds before the reported observations. The physical mechanism remains unclear as to why we observe dart‐stepped leaders, which show mostly regular stepping, emitting energetic microsecond‐scale pulses.

IMPROVING THE EDDY CURRENT IDENTIFIER OF METALS BASED ON THE CORRELATION APPROACH

Context. The article considers the problem of improving the eddy current device for metal identification on the basis of the correlation approach. This approach is convenient for the accumulation of a database of known leading materials, as well as for the comparison of the signal from an unknown metal object with the available standards in the database. The proposed approach allows to determine the type of metal from which the sample is made, without damaging its surface.
 Objective. The aim of the work is the identification of metals by type on the feedback signals from the eddy current converter, due to the identification of new informative features and the creation of a database of images of metals.
 Method. The paper presents the results of an experimental study of the proposed approach to increase the reliability of identification of metal objects that are detected using an eddy current device. These studies are conducted on the basis of a radio system that operates on the eddy current principle and has low-frequency magnetic loop antennas. The eddy current method allows the identification of metals by type remotely and without damaging their surface, in contrast to X-ray fluorescence, optical emission or chemical methods. A correlation approach for processing the response signal spectrum from a hidden metal object is proposed. The correlation approach allows to increase the reliability of the identification of metals by type when processing the signal in the spectral region based on the Fourier transform. Studies have been conducted on the example of metals that have similar spectral characteristics (silver, gold, lead). The updated approach allowed to increase the percentage difference between the information parameters of signals – responses from 1.87% to 5.02% for silver and gold, from 2.24% to 4.34% for silver and lead and from 0.36% to 0.7% for gold and lead.
 Results. The developed radio system is a laboratory model, which consists of an analog part and a digital one. The analog part is an antenna unit, a signal amplifier and a bandpass filter, a digital part – a microcontroller with an ADC for digitizing and transmitting data to a laptop, which software implements the proposed approaches to signal processing. The paper experimentally confirmed the possibility of using a radio engineering system to solve the problem of metal identification within a subset of nonmagnetic and magnetic materials.
 Conclusions. The development of modern eddy current devices is aimed at increasing the reliability of the identification the hidden metal objects, which is relevant in geophysical exploration, archeology, and law enforcement agencies in the search for hidden non-ferrous metals. The development and improvement of such systems includes both the development the hardware and the discovery new information parameters in the feedback signals from metals. One such direction may be the correlation approach to signal processing in the spectral region.

MICS-Band Helical Dipole Antenna for Biomedical Implants

This letter presents the design, analysis, and measurement of a miniaturized ( <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{7}\!\times\!\text{7.5}$</tex-math></inline-formula> mm) electrically small helical dipole antenna with the introduction of a flexible magnetic sheet of high permittivity and permeability for biomedical implants. The proposed helical dipole, operating at 402–405 MHz Medical Implant Communication Services (MICS) band, supports wider bandwidths (10 dB bandwidth: simulated 33 MHz; measured 49.5 MHz) compared to the state-of-the-art designs. In addition, as a hybrid between a magnetic loop antenna and an electric dipole antenna and operating in the normal mode with small radian (ka < 0.36), enhanced radiation efficiency has been achieved as a result of the magnetic sheet. Measured in-body to on-body transmission verifies the antenna performance.

Continental thunderstorm ground enhancement observed at an exceptionally low altitude

Abstract. Two long-lasting thunderstorm ground enhancement (TGE) events were registered at the Milešovka meteorological observatory in Czechia (50.55∘ N, 13.93∘ E; 837 m altitude) on 23 April 2018, during linearly organized thunderstorms. Two intervals of increased photon counts were detected by a plastic scintillator, respectively lasting 70 and 25 min and reaching 31 % and 48 % above the background radiation levels. Using numerical simulations, we verified that the observed increases in count rates are consistent with the energy spectrum of previously observed TGEs. We investigated the relevant data from a suite of meteorological instruments, a Ka-band cloud radar, an electric field mill, and a broadband electromagnetic receiver, all placed at the Milešovka observatory, in order to analyse the context in which these unique continental TGEs occurred at an exceptionally low altitude. The onset of the TGEs preceded the onset of precipitation by 10 and 3 min, respectively, for the two events. Both this delayed rain arrival and an energy threshold of 6.5 MeV for registered particles clearly exclude the detection the decay products of the radon progeny washout during the TGE intervals. At the same time, the European lightning detection network EUCLID detected numerous predominantly negative intracloud lightning discharges at distances closer than 5 km from the particle detector, while the occurrence of cloud-to-ground discharges was suppressed. The cloud radar recorded presence of graupel below the melting level, and the composition of hydrometeors suggested good conditions for cloud electrification. The observed variations in the near-surface electric field were unusual, with very brief negative-electric-field excursions reaching −20 kV in a quick succession. At the same time, sub-microsecond unipolar pulses emitted by close corona discharges saturated the broadband magnetic loop antenna. All these measurements indicate that a strong lower positive-charge region was present inside the thundercloud. The bottom thundercloud dipole was probably responsible for acceleration of the seed electrons in the air. These seed electrons might originate in the secondary cosmic ray particles but could also come from a high concentration of radon in the air collected during the propagation of the convective system above the uranium-rich soils before the thunderstorms overpassed the Milešovka observatory.

Magnetic and electric antennas calibration for partial discharge charge estimation in gas-insulated substations

There are no accepted procedures that quantify the apparent charge of partial discharge (PD) in gas-insulated substations (GIS). This paper proposes a calibration method for PD charge estimation using unconventional electromagnetic sensors: a magnetic loop antenna (inductive coupler) and an electric antenna (capacitive coupler.) The calibration procedure is intended for the voltage double integral method, which is reviewed for magnetic antennas and extended for electric antennas. By injecting low-frequency sinusoidal signals, the calibration constants are determined for two different test setups: the first one being a testbench where the characteristic impedance is matched and the second one a full-scale 420 kV GIS. The calibration method is validated in three ways: with a calibrated pulse in the testbench, a calibrated pulse in a full-scale GIS, and PD defects in the full-scale GIS. The calibration procedure revealed a frequency limit range dependent on the GIS length and the sensor’s signal-to-noise ratio. The three validation methods showed low charge estimation errors for the magnetic and electric antennas, demonstrating that the PD calibration method applies to any electric/magnetic detector with a low-frequency derivative response. This research paves the way for better GIS insulation monitoring and PD sensor harmonization.© 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Near Field on Inductor Loops for Inductive Couple Fed Antenna

Abstract This paper presents an evaluation on the near field of square loop and circular loop for inductive couple fed RFID Tag antenna. The loop is simulated with different diameter and width The turns number (N) of the loop is varies up to three number of turns for each loop length. The magnetic fields and inductance are simulated to estimate the signal strength that can be coupled to the tag antenna. To evaluate the performance, the inductive feeding loop is designed to operate at RFID UHF band (860 MHz - 960 MHz) and simulated using CST software. It is confirmed that 6 mm loop length of the square and circular loop has higher magnetic field values as the surface area of the loop is bigger. The loop with different overall dimension gives out different reactance, inductance and magnetic field, dipole antenna, CST, and loop antenna.

Environmental Sensitivity of Large Stealth Longwave Antenna Systems

This article presents an analysis of measurements collected during a six-month-long experimental deployment of a surface-placed horizontal magnetic loop antenna. The changes in the measured parameters of the loop are investigated in relation to the surrounding environment’s composition, temperature and water content. Basic functions describing these changes are formulated. The results are confronted with outcomes from similar experiments from previous years and different locations, showing good compliance. The developed functions and antenna system can be used for environmental monitoring of soil composition and humidity over large areas and volumes, helpful in, for example, flood awareness.

Design and Characterization of a Magnetic Loop Antenna for Partial Discharge Measurements in Gas Insulated Substations

A recent investigation explored a new measuring concept used in partial discharges (PD) measurements in gas insulated substations (GIS), consisting of a magnetic loop antenna. The sensor’s frequency response was characterized up to some tens of MHz. This paper proposes an improved version of the sensor with an extended bandwidth (BW) one order of magnitude higher: a resonance, attributed to a common mode current in the mounting hole, is identified and eliminated employing ferrite beads in the feeder cables. Moreover, this publication proposes an electric circuit model that fully covers the transverse electromagnetic mode (TEM) frequency range in GIS. The electric model is compared against experimental measurements using a <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">1</i> GHz bandwidth testbench, giving accurate results. Two contributions are achieved in this research: an improved magnetic loop antenna with extended bandwidth and an accurate electric circuit model. This publication paves the way for further research on time resolution and signal postprocessing techniques for magnetic loop antennas in GIS.

Pure dipole radiation via exact solution of Maxwell's equations with spherical source electric current density

Magnetic loop antennas are valuable for low frequency radar and communications applications, especially for frequencies below 1 MHz. The present paper examines a possible new type of magnetic antenna which is based on a spherical distribution of source electric current. Specifically, this analysis examines a spherically shaped azimuthal electric current density with a magnitude that is proportional to the sine of the spherical elevation angle. A theoretic analytic investigation of the resultant electromagnetic (EM) fields yields an exact closed-form solution of Maxwell's equations which is expressed in terms of a small number of elemental functions. This emanated radiation has a purely dipole structure, with the absence of any higher order multipole contributions. This pure dipole property might offer new applications in radar and communications, provided that suitable physical antenna systems can be fabricated based on the subject theoretical concepts.

Design and Fabrication of Magnetic Loop Antenna for 5MHz

In the short-wave range, size of the antenna become large and therefore is a major constraint. Magnetic Loop Antenna provides an advantage over other antennas in terms of a smaller size, higher quality factor and better signal to noise ratio. It works on the principle of resonance with the inductor provided by loop and external tuning capacitor operating like a tank circuit. The tunable magnetic loop antenna is designed to work in the high frequency range. The antenna consists of a circular hollow copper pipe, an inductive loop feed and a variable tuning capacitor. The antenna is tuned using variable 9-140pF capacitor paralleled with 150pF capacitor. The designed antenna is simulated using 4NEC2 software. The simulated antenna has high efficiency and quality factor of more than 1000. The real time testing show great result at 5.45MHz with bandwidth of 8KHz.

Propagation of shear Alfvén waves in a two-ion plasma and application as a diagnostic for the ion density ratio

In this paper, we propose an efficient diagnostic technique for determining spatially resolved measurements of the ion density ratio in a magnetized two-ion species plasma. Shear Alfvén waves were injected into a mixed helium–neon plasma using a magnetic loop antenna, for frequencies spanning the ion cyclotron regime. Two distinct propagation bands are observed, bounded by $\omega &lt; \varOmega _\textrm {Ne}$ and $\omega _{ii} &lt; \omega &lt; \varOmega _\textrm {He}$ , where $\omega _{ii}$ is the ion–ion hybrid cutoff frequency and $\varOmega _\textrm {He}$ and $\varOmega _\textrm {Ne}$ are the helium and neon cyclotron frequencies, respectively. A theoretical analysis of the cutoff frequency was performed and shows it to be largely unaffected by kinetic electron effects and collisionality, although it can deviate significantly from $\omega _{{ii}}$ in the presence of warm ions due to ion finite Larmor radius effects. A new diagnostic technique and accompanying algorithm was developed in which the measured parallel wavenumber $k_\parallel$ is numerically fit to the predicted inertial Alfvén wave dispersion in order to resolve the local ion density ratio. A major advantage of this algorithm is that it only requires a measurement of $k_\parallel$ and the background magnetic field in order to be employed. This diagnostic was tested on the Large Plasma Device at UCLA and was successful in yielding radially localized measurements of the ion density ratio.

FREQUENCY MODULATION APPROACH BASED ON SPLIT-RING RESONATOR LOADED BY VARACTOR DIODE

In the paper, an approach to frequency modulation is presented using a split-ring resonator (SRR) loaded by a varactor diode. The modulation occurs due to the continuous time variation of capacitance of the varactor diode via changing of its bias voltage by the signal which is necessary to modulate. The modulation signal is used for bias voltage. As a source of a carrier signal, one more extra magnetic loop antenna is utilized which is coupled with the SRR via near-field interaction. Investigation of two types of signals (harmonic and chaotic) was performed for modulation in the paper. It is shown that it is possibile to provide the frequency modulation with deviation Δfd = ±80 MHz which covers the frequency range 0.95…1.11 GHz for a 1 GHz carrier signal when a SMV1231 varactor diode is used. The major advantages of the suggested approach are the very simple design and ability to easily define the required values of frequency deviation through tuning of the bias voltage magnitude range of the varactor diode. Therefore, the presented investigation and results can be useful in the manufacturing of low-cost radio components.

Compact Magnetic Loop Antenna for Omnidirectional On-Metal UHF Tag Design

For the first time, a planar and low-profile magnetic loop antenna is proposed for designing an omnidirectional metal-mountable radio frequency identification (RFID) tag antenna. The proposed tag antenna, which consists of an annular slot exciter, a shorted patch, two shorting stubs, and four notches, can be easily made on one side of a flexible polyimide film. It has a dimension of 38 mm $\times \,\, 38$ mm $\times \,\, 1.6$ mm ( $0.116\lambda \times 0.116\lambda \times 0.0049\lambda$ ). The tag antenna is able to generate stable omnidirectional read patterns when placed on metal. The notches are not only employed for bringing down the tag’s resonant frequency to the ultrahigh (UHF) RFID band, but they can also be used for effectively reducing the gain fluctuation in the azimuth plane. Good maximum power transmission of ~90% is attainable. Measurements are conducted with reference to a transmitting power of 4W EIRP, and it has been shown that the proposed tag antenna is able to generate omnidirectional radiation patterns with a stable read distance of 5.29–5.65 m on metal in all directions in the azimuth plane. The tag’s resonant frequency is also very stable with a maximum fluctuation of only 0.22%.

Flexible and Stretchable Antennas for Biointegrated Electronics.

Combined advances in material science, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering form the foundations of thin, soft electronic/optoelectronic platforms that have unique capabilities in wireless monitoring and control of various biological processes in cells, tissues, and organs. Miniaturized, stretchable antennas represent an essential link between such devices and external systems for control, power delivery, data processing, and/or communication. Applications typically involve a demanding set of considerations in performance, size, and stretchability. Some of the most effective strategies rely on unusual materials such as liquid metals, nanowires, and woven textiles or on optimally configured 2D/3D structures such as serpentines and helical coils of conventional materials. In the best cases, the performance metrics of small, stretchable, radio frequency (RF) antennas realized using these strategies compare favorably to those of traditional devices. Examples range from dipole, monopole, and patch antennas for far-field RF operation, to magnetic loop antennas for near-field communication (NFC), where the key parameters include operating frequency, Q factor, radiation pattern, and reflection coefficient S11 across a range of mechanical deformations and cyclic loads. Despite significant progress over the last several years, many challenges and associated research opportunities remain in the development of high-efficiency antennas for biointegrated electronic/optoelectronic systems.

A novel method for time-resolved measurement of magnetization dynamics induced by femtosecond laser pulse in highly absorbing and metallic layer coated thin films based on a magnetic loop antenna

Femtosecond laser-induced magnetization dynamics is a popular research topic, due to its potential applications in fast magnetic storage devices and the field of spintronics. In the article we present a novel technique for time-resolved measurement of femtosecond laser-induced magnetization dynamics, based on inductive sensing by a loop antenna. It allows performing investigation of magnetization dynamics in highly absorbing samples, samples with patterned surfaces and samples coated by a thin metallic layer, which are difficult to study using optical techniques. To test the technique, both thick and thin films made of highly absorbing and diffusing materials, were used. Results of tests for several ferromagnetic materials including Gadolinium are discussed in the article. The test results prove that the method provides a simple tool to observe and study magnetization dynamics phenomena in the vicinity of the materials’ Curie temperature.

A magnetic loop antenna for partial discharge measurements on GIS

This paper presents a magnetic loop antenna for partial discharge (PD) measurements on gas insulated systems (GIS). The antenna is based on a single shielded loop inserted in the dielectric window of a GIS that measures the PD currents propagating in TEM mode. The paper describes the relevant parameters of the antenna and the antenna performance in combination with a transimpedance amplifier. A calibration method for charge estimation is presented along with laboratory experiments with free moving particle, surface and corona discharges in SF6 test cells. The results show the suitability of the magnetic antenna for PD detection and the charge evaluation performance. Under laboratory conditions, the antenna sensitivity is in the order of 1 pC at a few meters from the PD source.

A magnetic‐loop based monopole antenna for GPR applications

AbstractA new planar antenna is proposed for multiple applications in ground‐penetrating radar. The proposed antenna offers ultra‐wide band characteristics ranging from 100 MHz to 6 GHz. The antenna composed of two elements: an electrical tree‐shaped portion and a magnetic loop antenna, made by joining an electrical antenna with a ground plane via 50 Ohm resistor. The loop antenna portion provides a low‐frequency operation without increasing physical size of the antenna. Proposed antenna has relatively small dimensions 20 × 22.5 cm2 as compared with similar antennas covering the same bandwidth. Time domain analysis of this antenna is done to check its performance for applications in impulse‐based radar systems. The antenna has been manufactured and experimental results are added to validate simulation results.

Whistler modes in highly nonuniform magnetic fields. I. Propagation in two-dimensions

The propagation of whistler wave packets is studied in a large laboratory plasma with nonuniform ambient magnetic fields. The wave packets are excited by magnetic loop antennas and, for uniform fields, have the topology of helicon modes in unbounded plasmas. The waves propagate across the separatrix of X-type nulls and across circular field lines of magnetic islands. Classical wave refraction is not observed when the magnetic gradient scale length becomes shorter than the wavelength. Since the ambient magnetic field is generated by a line current, it is two dimensional and the wave magnetic field is measured and displayed in transverse planes. Using wave bursts, the space-time evolution of wave packets is observed. The group velocity has been measured. Waves can cross a separatrix and refract into nearly parallel whistler modes. The phase rotation of helicons is lost on a strongly curved field. In highly nonuniform magnetic fields, the phase velocity is determined from multipoint magnetic hodograms, the group velocity from the Poynting vector fields. The energy flow is highly field aligned while the phase flow can be highly oblique to the ambient magnetic field without encountering cyclotron resonance absorption. In the limiting case of circular field lines, counter propagating waves create azimuthal standing waves while still propagating radially. Standard concepts of plane wave refraction do not apply to whistler modes in highly nonuniform magnetic fields. Implications of these observations on research in space plasmas and helicon devices will be pointed out.

Room Temperature Electrochemical Sintering of Zn Microparticles and Its Use in Printable Conducting Inks for Bioresorbable Electronics.

This study describes a conductive ink formulation that exploits electrochemical sintering of Zn microparticles in aqueous solutions at room temperature. This material system has relevance to emerging classes of biologically and environmentally degradable electronic devices. The sintering process involves dissolution of a surface passivation layer of zinc oxide in CH3 COOH/H2 O and subsequent self-exchange of Zn and Zn2+ at the Zn/H2 O interface. The chemical specificity associated with the Zn metal and the CH3 COOH/H2 O solution is critically important, as revealed by studies of other material combinations. The resulting electrochemistry establishes the basis for a remarkably simple procedure for printing highly conductive (3 × 105 S m-1 ) features in degradable materials at ambient conditions over large areas, with key advantages over strategies based on liquid phase (fusion) sintering that requires both oxide-free metal surfaces and high temperature conditions. Demonstrations include printed magnetic loop antennas for near-field communication devices.