A top-hat monopole antenna with homogeneous or inhomogeneous dielectric loa
ding over a ground plane is considered. Mode-matching analysis with proper
enforcement of edge conditions is applied to the problem. The results of th
is technique are verified through independent calculations of admittance as
well as by comparison of fields across matching regions. Measurements were
also taken for comparison with the results from the model. It is shown tha
t dielectric loading can reduce the electrical size necessary for self reso
nance, but only at the expense of a large increase in radiation Q.