Characterization of a high frequency Beverage antenna using a fiber-optic measurement technique

R.W.P. King (1983, 1990) has proposed a rigorous, generalized theory for the Beverage antenna above a dielectric half-space. The authors report extensive experimental and theoretical investigations that validate King´s theory for a high-frequency Beverage antenna located above the earth. The antenna consists of a No.14 gauge copper wire, 180 ft in length, supported above the ground by wooden posts. One end of the antenna is connected to a signal source through a transformer/balun, and the other end is terminated in a suitable matched load. A novel fiber-optic measurement set-up has been used to measure the complex propagation constant (attenuation and phase velocity) of the current distribution along the antenna for various frequencies and antenna heights above ground. The amplitude and phase of the measured current distribution are shown to agree with those calculated from King´s theory for two different antenna heights of 12 in and 64.5 in above the earth.<>