Investigations on miniaturized endfire vertically polarized quasi-fractal log-periodic zigzag antenna

This paper presents the investigations on a miniaturized vertically polarized traveling wave antenna for operation in the high frequency band (3-6 MHz), with a specific requirement of keeping its height near 1/8th of a wavelength. The antenna is desired to have a good endfire gain and front to back ratio, and small radiation levels in the vertical direction at broadside angle. A log-periodic Zigzag antenna (LPZA) has acceptable performance in both gain and polarization. Its height however is large, at about one wavelength (1λ_L). The concept of fractal antenna is employed in this antenna to achieve the necessary height reduction to λ_L/8, while keeping its radiation characteristics nearly constant. Both single and dual arm quasifractal log-periodic zigzag antenna (QFLPZA) configurations are investigated, with a maximum antenna height of only 1/8th of a wavelength, showing the desired radiation characteristics, and a wide impedance bandwidth of 67%. This type of antenna may find applications in surveillance radar.