Spherical surface-wave antennas

Solutions of Maxwell´s equations are presented which approximately satisfy the boundary conditions for corrugated and dielectric-clad conducting spheres. These solutions have the physical interpretation of leaky latitudinal surface waves. Values of the complex propagation constant are given as functions of the geometry. For large spheres the leakage is small and the transmission properties approach those of a trapped cylindrical wave on a flat surface. A corrugated spherical cap, used to support surface waves, has been found to have interesting possibilities as a low-drag omnidirectional antenna. Preliminary experimental results are offered as an illustration of the theory.