Near fields of a linear antenna

The near fields of a strip antenna in free space have been computed by modifying a variational-impedance formulation. Current distributions, which vary linearly with distance near the ends of the antenna, excite strong tangential electric fields on the antenna surface. Such surface fields are avoided by choosing the axial antenna current to vary in proportion to the square root of the distance from the antenna ends. This modification of the antenna current is not necessary, however, for field calculations at distances comparable to the antenna width. The fields parallel to the antenna surface decrease with increasing distance from the antenna near the driving point and the antenna ends, but are found to increase in an intermediate range.