Slot antennae

Abstract

As the lower frequency bands become more and more closely spaced, intensive use is being made of microwaves. With frequencies becoming higher everyday, applications are becoming unlimited ranging from point-to-point communications, to satellite and space transmissions. Many special applications of microwave beams have been developed, namely transmission of high power energy through considerable distances and also use of such narrow beamwidth beams, for tracking system purposes. Work in this project entailed mostly a detailed study of propagation of such high frequencies in waveguides and also of microwave apparatus especially that available in the laboratory. Use is then made of this knowledge to produce a slot antenna in order to study its radiation properties. This antenna is later used in setting up a single channel communications link in the laboratory. The first two chapters will therefore be of rather a theoretical nature, leading to wave propagation in the waveguide system available and also to radiation from the slot antenna. A brief study of microwave apparatus is included in the third chapter before going into the experimental work that was carried out which is done in the rest of the work. It is worthwhile to note here that this assignment was most useful in giving a first acquaintance with microwave set-ups and apparatus. The slot antenna was chosen as the area of special interest as it has many obvious advantages. These include unobtrusive antenna rays for automatic aircraft landing and also for use on the aircraft, providing immunity from precipitation static since streamlining is preserved.