Electromagnetic radiation from a prolate spheroidal antenna enclosed in a confocal spheroidal radome

Abstract

The solution of electromagnetic radiation from a prolate spheroidal antenna, excited by a delta voltage across an infinitesimally narrow gap and enclosed in a confocal radome, is obtained. The method used is that of separating the scalar wave equation in prolate spheroidal coordinates and representing the solution in terms of prolate spheroidal wave functions. A simplified solution of the electric and magnetic fields, taking into account the symmetry of the antenna in the φ direction, is obtained. Boundary conditions are then applied on the tangential fields to obtain a linear system of equations. The system of equations is cast into matrix form and solved using an iterative technique for the unknown expansion coefficients of the fields. Radiation patterns of the antenna are obtained and presented here for the first time.