ELECTROMAGNETIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SUPERQUADRIC WIRE LOOP ANTENNAS

The analysis of antenna configurations in the form of a generalized su perquadric loop, which includes circular, elliptical and rectangular l oop geometries, is presented in this paper. Use of a Galerkin form of the moment method with piecewise sinusoidal subsectional basis and tes ting functions provides rapid numerical convergence and accurate repre sentation of the antenna current. A convenient parametric representati on for the superquadric curve is developed to allow a subsectional for mulation using curved wire segments, rather than the commonly employed piecewise linear segments, to construct the geometry. Both magnetic f r ill and delta gap source models are implemented to allow a detailed study of input impedance, directivity, radiation pattern and current d istribution as a function of various geometrical parameters. The resul ts are shown to compare well with previous results for the special cas e of a circular loop antenna. Some useful curves are presented to aid in the design of practical superquadric loop antennas.