On the use of active coupling networks with electrically small receiving antennas

An analysis of the noise performance of an active receiving antenna system consisting of an antenna, active coupling network, and high-gain preamplifier is described. It is shown how this noise performance can be described by circular loci in the output-impedance plane of the coupling network. These loci are not restricted to the right-half plane. A coupling network having an output impedance in the left-half plane was built using a negative-impedance converter (NIC), and experimental results obtained by using this circuit in conjunction with a short monopole are presented.