g H A /* T

ElecEromagneEic Wave
Pro pagati on

CHAPTER OUTLINE
i4-1 i qoduction
14-i Electromagnetic Waves and
Polarization t4-3 Rays and Wavefronts
4-4 Electromagnetic Radiation
14-5 Characteristic Impedance of Free Space
14-6 Spherical Wavefront and the Inverse
Square Law
I 4-7 Wave Attenuation and Absorption
14-8 Optical Properties of Radio Waves
14-9 Terressial Propagati• . of Electromagnetic Waves
14- 10 Propagation Terms and Definitions
14- 11 Free-Space Path Lais
14- 12 Fading and Fade Margin

OBJECTIVES
Seine fi-ee-spoce electromagnetic wave propagation
define electmmagnetic wave polarization
Define and describe the terms rays and wavefronts
Define electmmagnetic radiation and describe the terms power density andJeld ii:tettriry
Explain characteristic impedance of free
space Describe a spherical wavefront
Explain the inverse square law
Define and explain ’+axe attenuation and absorption
Define and describe the optical properties of radio waves: refraction, reflection, and diffraction
Define the modes of terrestrial propagation: ground waves, space waves, and sky waves
Define and explain the following terms: critical frequency, critical angle, virtual height, and maximum
usable
frequency
Define ship and skip distance
de fine free-space path loss and describe the variables that constitutg it
Defihe/‹zde and/ade margin

603
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(qui nt In g\\‹›tlirr }(n\ gvcr. vra g ÎPn '0 clL ctrnniC cnmmunic ltinns systeme* GA Î& imp.
a physicaJ faciliîy \qç§
a »,ctnlii. witc ou cnbre TUV i• csi•cia ly tru* • •• the eQu‹pt°ent " •P•'attd b› log,
spgjjs ›f watcr, /-ugged mounlnins. ‹›r hszsh dcsert terrain or wh*n
s.nte]IiIc tr.tnspnnders oîhiting 22.30û miles abcve Earth. Also, when IÎic transinit\gy
mccivcrs arc mobile, æs wiü › \wo-way radiu communicacions and ccllular tclephnnc, pp
viding cnnnecticns with metallic facilities is impc sible. Therefore. Earth's atmosphcrr ¡/
nRen useü 8s a transmission medium.
Frrr-space propagation of elccrromagnelic waves is oftcn called
(RF) p mya$aiion or simply radio yrnpa ation. Although free space
propagation through EaJth’s atmosphère is often rcferrcd to as free-space
propaga\\gq and can oflei\ bc lreatcd :ls just that. the primary différence being thai
Earth's m/ sphère intrnduccs lossrr end impairm«nts tn the signal that arc not
cncountercd in a .
uum. TEî\4 waves will propag2te through ••7 ^ieIectric material, including air.
Tgg waves, hcwcver, do nut propagaie v e\I through lossy conductors, such as
seawatcr, p. cause the electric ùelds cause currenls to fÏow in the matinal that
rapidly dissipalg gym

Radio waves are electromagnetic waves and, like light, propagate through fed
sq in a straight line with a velocity of approximately 300,(00,(00 metets per second.
Oni forms of electromagnetic waves include infrared, ultraviolet, X rays, and gamma
rays.
propagate radio "aves ti »°8* Earth’s atmosphere, it is neccssary that the energy be
t;tdt. ated from thc source, then the enetgy must be capnited at the receive end.
Radiating and capturing energy are antenna functions and ice c xplained in Chapter 15,
znd the procures
of electromagnetic waves were explained in Chapter 13. The purpose of this chapter is to
describe the nature, behavior, and optical properties of radio waves propagaung through
Earth’s atmosphere.

14-2 ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES AND POLARIZATION

In essence, an rfeciromognetic wave is electrical energy that has escaped into be sj
tc. Electromagnetic waves travel in a straight line at approximately the speed of light
and are made up of magnetic and elecric fields thai are at right angles to each other and
at right an- gles to the direction of propagation. The essential properties of radio waves
are frequency. intensity, direction of travel, and plane of polarization.
Radio waves are a form of electromagnetic radiation similar to light and heat. They
dîffer fzom thèse otber radiatioas in the manner io wkich û iey are genecateô anü detecl
¢d an‹i in their frequency range. A radio wave consists of traveling electric and aiagnetic
fields. with the energy evenly divided between the two types of fields.
The polarization of a plane elcctromagnetic wave is simply the orientatioh of iht
electric field vector in respect to the surface of the Earth (i.e., looking at the horizon).
If polarization remains constant, it is described as lineor polarizotiom Horizontal
polarit0• tion and vertical polarization are two forms of linear polarization. lf the
electric field ÎS propagating parallel to the Earth’s surface, the cave is said to be
horizontally polariZed the electric field is propagatin8 perpendicular to the Earth’s
surface, the wave is said to te vertically polarized. If the polarization vector rotaies
360ᵉ as the wave moves one 'Yâ ** length through space and the field strength is equal
at all angles of tiolarizadon. the WEB is described as having circuler polnrizaiion.
 When the field stmngth varies with châ ng

&O4 Qhapter 14
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