Unit 2 - Point Sources

Radiation pattern:
The radiation pattern of antenna is a representation (pictorial or mathematical) of the
distribution of the power out-flowing (radiated) from the antenna (in the case of
transmitting antenna), or inflowing (received) to the antenna (in the case of receiving
antenna) as a function of direction angles from the antenna
Antenna radiation pattern (antenna pattern): It is defined for large distances from the antenna,
where the spatial (angular) distribution of the radiated power does not depend on the distance
from the radiation source is independent on the power flow direction

It is clear in Figures a and b that in some very specific directions there are zeros, or nulls,
in the pattern indicating no radiation.
The protuberances between the nulls are referred to as lobes, and the main, or major,
lobe is in the direction of maximum radiation.
There are also side lobes and back lobes. These other lobes divert power away from the main
beam and are desired as small as possible.
Pattern lobe is a portion of the radiation pattern with a local maximum
Lobes are classified as: major, minor, side lobes, back lobE

Pattern lobes and beam widths

Normalized pattern:

Usually, the pattern describes the normalized field (power) values with respect to the
maximum value.
Note: The power pattern and the amplitude field pattern are the same when computed
and when plotted in dB.
Fig: 3-D pattern
Antenna radiation pattern is 3-dimensional. The 3-D plot of antenna pattern assumes
both angles θ and φ varying.

Fig:2-D pattern
Usually the antenna pattern is presented as a 2-D plot, with only one of the direction
angles, θ or φ varies.
It is an intersection of the 3-D one with a given plane .Usually it is a θ
= const plane or a φ = const plane that contains the pattern’s maximum.
 RADIATION INTENSITY
The radiation intensity is total power radiated per unit solid angle and is denoted by U
and it is expressed as U= P/4π.

First figure shows radiation intensity of a source and second figure is relative
radiation intensity of that source.
POINT SOURCE
A point source is a radiator that has dimensions of a point in space.
POWER PATTERN
The directional property of the antenna is often described in the form of a
power pattern. The power pattern is simply the effective area normalized to be
unity at the maximum.

Fig: Power pattern for isotropic source

Power pattern and relative power patterns of a source

Figure (a) shows power pattern of a source. Figure(b) shows relative power pattern of
a same source. Both Patterns have the same shape. The relative power pattern is normalized
to a maximum of unity
The radiated energy streams from the source in radial lines.
Time rate of Energy flow/unit area is called as Poynting vector (Power
Density)
It is expressed as ……….watts / square meters.
For a Point source Poynting vector has only radial component Sr
S component in Θ and φ directions are zero. Magnitude
of S = Sr
Source radiating uniformly in all directions – Isotropic Source. It is
independent of Θ and φ .
Graph of Sr at a constant radius as a function of angle is POWER PATTERN

Field pattern
A pattern showing variation of the electric field intensity at a constant
radius r as a function of angle(θ , φ) is called “field pattern”

Fig: Relation of poynting vector s and 2 electric field components of a far field

The power pattern and the field patterns are inter-related: P(θ, φ) =
(1/η)*|E(θ, φ )|2 = η*|H(θ, φ)|2
P = power
E = electrical field component vector H =
magnetic field component vector η = 377 ohm
(free-space impedance)
The power pattern is the measured (calculated) and plotted received power: |P(θ, φ)| at a
constant (large) distance from the antenna
The amplitude field pattern is the measured (calculated) and plotted electric (magnetic) field
intensity, |E(θ, φ)| or |H(θ, φ)| at a constant (large) distance from the antenna s