Optimization of bow-tie antennas for pulse radiation

Resistively loaded bow-tie antennas are considered as radiators for temporally short, broad-bandwidth pulses. Analysis is by the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The geometrical details of the antenna and the resistive loading along the antenna are chosen to optimize this antenna for pulse radiation. Theoretical results for the reflected voltage in the coaxial feed line and the time-varying radiated electric field are compared throughout with experimental measurements. The optimized, resistive bow-tie antenna is shown to radiate a pulse that more closely resembles that of the excitation than is radiated by a metallic bow tie of comparable size. Issues involving the use of the FDTD method for modeling fully three-dimensional antennas are also discussed. These issues include the use of a simple feed model and the staircasing of the edges of the antenna