A resistively loaded bowtie antenna for pulse radiation: FDTD analysis and optimization

The resistively loaded bowtie antenna has been optimized for pulse radiation using the FDTD (finite-difference time-domain) method as the primary design tool. To analyze this structure with available computer resources, several approximations and simplifications had to be introduced into the FDTD model: an approximate model for the feed, staircased edges, a ballooned grid, and closely spaced absorbing boundary conditions. All of these factors can potentially reduce the agreement of the FDTD results with experiment; nevertheless, the FDTD analysis can still serve as a useful design tool for optimizing the antenna.<>