Lab 1: Radiation & Ideal Physics

Section A: Theoretical Proficiency

1. Who provided the unified theory of electromagnetism that first established light as an electromagnetic wave?

2. In a non-magnetic material medium, by what factor is the velocity of an electromagnetic wave reduced compared to its speed in a vacuum?

3. Why does the “Hairy Ball Theorem” prove that a perfectly isotropic electromagnetic radiator cannot physically exist in free space?

4. What is the “Principle of Pattern Multiplication” used in the study of antenna arrays?

5. What is the primary idealized assumption regarding the current distribution on a Hertzian dipole?

6. For a center-fed short dipole with a triangular current distribution, what is the relationship between its effective length ($L_e$​) and its physical length ($L$)?

7. What is the conventional boundary distance used to separate the near-field and far-field regions for a Hertzian dipole?

8. According to the transmission-line analogy, what is the shape of the current distribution along a thin half-wave dipole?

9. In Image Theory, how do you model a vertical Hertzian dipole located at a height ($h$) above a Perfect Electric Conductor (PEC) ground plane?

10. How does the radiation resistance of a quarter-wave monopole above a perfect ground plane compare to that of a half-wave dipole in free space?

Section B: Simulation Mastery

Approximating the Hertzian Dipole

Objective:

Use AN-SOF to approximate the theoretical properties of an infinitesimal Hertzian dipole and estimate its radiation resistance.

Exercise:

1. AN-SOF Modeling: Set the frequency to 300 MHz ($\lambda \approx 1\ \text{m}$). Draw a vertical dipole with a physical length of 0.01 meters ($0.01\lambda$).
2. Uniform Current: To approximate the uniform current distribution of an ideal Hertzian dipole, add short horizontal radial wires to both ends of the vertical dipole.
3. Analysis: Set the input power to 100 W. Open the Results > Power Budget table to find the Radiated Power ($P_r$​). Right-click the vertical wire and select List Currents > Current on Segment to find the input current magnitude ($|I_0|$).
4. Verification: Calculate the radiation resistance. Compare this value to the theoretical result for a dipole of this electrical length.

Lab Submission Instructions

Certification Submission: Lab 1

To fulfill the requirements for the Certificate of Technical Proficiency, you must submit your results for this module to our review board.

What to include in your report:

1. Theoretical Answers: Your elaborated responses to the 10 questions in the “Theoretical Proficiency” section.
2. Simulation Data: Screenshots of your AN-SOF geometry and radiation patterns, along with the tables requested in the exercises. Please also include the AN-SOF project files in a .zip folder as described here: File Formats.
3. Format: Please compile your answers and images into a single PDF document.

How to Submit

Email your PDF and zipped AN-SOF project files to certification@antennasimulator.com using the following subject line:

Subject Line: Submission: Lab 1 – [Your Full Name]

Note: Each report is manually reviewed by the Golden Engineering team to ensure technical accuracy. We will provide feedback or confirmation within 3-5 business days.