Waveguide-fed spherical dielectric antennas

The results of an experimental investigation into the radiation properties of circular waveguide excited dielectric sphere antennas are reported. The input waveguide had a plain end without a flange or ground plane. The input voltage standing-wave ratio varied from about 1.1 to 2.5 for the sphere sizes used but can usually be reduced to about 1.25 over the 8-12 GHz band by separating the sphere from the waveguide. Separation increases the on-axis gain by 1-3 dB and produces nearly equal beamwidths in both - and - planes. Phase front measurements located a fixed phase center near the end of the waveguide.