Backfire antennas with dipole elements

A method is set up for a theoretical investigation of arbitrary backfire antennas based upon dipole structures. The mutual impedance between the dipole elements of the antenna is taken into account, and the field radiated due to a surface wave reflector of finite extent is determined by calculating the surface current distribution on the reflector plate. Numerical results obtained for Yagi backfire antennas and short-backfire antennas using this theory are compared with experimental results.