An experimental study of the antenna with nonreflecting resistive loading

The current amplitude, input admittance, and radiation field pattern of a dipole antenna with a step-function internal impedance were measured in the UHF range and compared with theory. The zero-order theory gives accurate descriptions of the current distribution, the field pattern, the wide bandwidth property, and the existence of the traveling wave on the antenna. The agreement in the input admittance is not good, but it can be improved with the help of the variational principle. The field pattern of this resistive antenna when displayed as a V antenna was found to be directional and insensitive to changes in frequency.