Surface-wave beacon antennas

Experimental results with center-fed corrugated and dielectric-clad spherical-cap antennas are presented and compared with the theory. The spherical surface waves supported by these structures give rise to radiation field patterns which are omnidirectional in the azimuth plane and which can be shaped in the elevation plane over a considerable range. The corrugated sphere provides vertical polarization while the dielectric sphere can support either polarization. The spherical caps are shown to have a natural application as low-drag beacon antennas when the surface geometries and sphere radii are appropriately adjusted.