LECTURE 12: Loop Antennas

(Radiation parameters of a small loop. Circular loop of constant current.

Equivalent circuit of the loop antenna. The small loop as a receiving antenna.
Ferrite loops.)
Equation Section 12
1. Introduction
Loop antennas feature simplicity, low cost and versatility. They may have
various shapes: circular, triangular, square, elliptical, etc. They are widely used
in communication links up to the microwave bands (up to ≈ 3 GHz). They are
also used as electromagnetic (EM) field probes in the microwave bands.
Loop antennas are usually classified as electrically small ( C < 0.1λ ) and
electrically large ( C  λ ). Here, C denotes the loop’s circumference.
Electrically small loops of a single turn have very small radiation resistance
(comparable to their loss resistance). Their radiation resistance can be
substantially improved by adding more turns. Multi-turn loops have better
radiation resistance although their efficiency is still poor. That is why they are
used mostly as receiving antennas where losses are not so important. The
radiation characteristics of a small loop antenna can be additionally improved
by inserting a ferromagnetic core. Radio-receivers of AM broadcast are usually
equipped with ferrite-loop antennas. Such antennas are used in pagers, too.
The small loops, regardless of their shape, have a far-field pattern very
similar to that of a small electric dipole (normal to the plane of the loop). This
is expected because they are equivalent to a magnetic dipole. Note, however,
that the field polarization is orthogonal to that of the electric dipole.
As the circumference of the loop increases, the pattern maximum shifts
towards the loop’s normal, and when C ≈ λ , the maximum of the pattern is at
the loop’s normal.

2. Radiation parameters of a small loop

A small loop is a loop of constant current whose radius satisfies
λ
a< , (12.1)
6π
or, whose circumference C satisfies C < λ / 3 . The limit (12.1) is
mathematically derived later in this Lecture from the first-order approximation

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of the Bessel function of the first order J1 ( x) in the general solution for a loop
of constant current. Actually, to make sure that the current has constant
distribution along the loop, a tighter limit must be imposed:
a < 0.03λ , (12.2)
or, C < λ / 5 . A good approximation of a small loop is the infinitesimal loop (or
the infinitesimal magnetic dipole).
The expressions for the field components of an infinitesimal loop of electric
current of area A were already derived in Lecture 3. Here, we give only the far-
field components when the loop’s normal is along the z-axis:
e− jβ r
Eϕ = ηβ ⋅ ( IA) ⋅
2 ⋅ sin θ , (12.3)
4π r
e− jβ r
Hθ = − β ⋅ ( IA) ⋅
2 ⋅ sin θ . (12.4)
4π r
It is obvious that the far-field pattern,
Eϕ (θ ) = sin θ , (12.5)
is identical to that of a z-directed infinitesimal electric dipole. The loop’s field
polarization is orthogonal to that of the dipole. The power pattern is identical to
that of the infinitesimal electric dipole:
F (θ ) = sin 2 θ . (12.6)
Radiated power:
1
=Π ∫∫ 2η | Eϕ |2 ⋅ r
 2 sin θ dθ dϕ ,
 
ds

1
ηβ 4 ( IA ) .
2
Π= (12.7)
12π
Radiation resistance:
2
8  A
Rr = η π 3  2  . (12.8)
3 λ 
In free space, η = 120π Ω, and
Rr ≈ 31171( A / λ 2 ) 2 . (12.9)
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Equation (12.9) gives the radiation resistance of a single loop. If the loop
antenna has N turns, then the radiation resistance increases with a factor of N 2
(because the radiated power increases as I2):
2
8  A
Rr = η π 3  N 2  . (12.10)
3  λ 
The relation in (12.10) provides a handy mechanism to increase Rr and the
radiated power Π . Unfortunately, the losses of the loop antenna also increase
(although only as  N ) and this results in low efficiency.
The directivity is the same as that of an infinitesimal dipole:
U
= π max 1.5 .
D0 4= (12.11)
Π rad

3. Circular loop of constant current – general solution

So far, we have assumed that the loop is of infinitesimal radius a, which
allowed the use of the expressions for the infinitesimal magnetic dipole. Now,
we derive the far field of a circular loop, which might not be necessarily very
small, but still has constant current distribution. This derivation illustrates the
general approach to the loop antenna analysis. This approach is used in the
solutions to circular loop problems of nonuniform distributions, too.
The circular loop can be divided into an infinite number of infinitesimal
current elements. With reference to the figure below, the position of a current
element in the xy plane is characterized by 0 ≤ ϕ ′ < 360 and θ ′ = 90 . The
position of the observation point P is defined by (θ ,ϕ ) .
The far-field approximations are
R ≈ r − a cosψ , for the phase term,
1 1 (12.12)
≈ , for the amplitude term.
R r
In general, the solution for A does not depend on ϕ because of the cylindrical
symmetry of the problem. Set ϕ = 0 . The angle between the position vector of
the source point Q and that of the observation point P is determined as
cosψ =rˆ ⋅ rˆ ′ =(xˆ sin θ cos ϕ + yˆ sin θ sin ϕ + zˆ cosθ ) ⋅ (xˆ cos ϕ ′ + yˆ sin ϕ ′) ,

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 z
P

θ R
a ψ
ϕ y
ϕ′ r′
Q
I0
x

sin θ cos ϕ ′ .
⇒ cosψ = (12.13)
Now the vector potential integral can be solved for the far zone:
µ e − j β ( r − a sin θ cos ϕ ′)
A ( r ,θ , ϕ ) =
4π ∫ I 0 r
dl (12.14)
C

where dl = φˆ ′adϕ ′ is the linear element of the loop contour. The current
element changes its direction along the loop and its contribution depends on the
angle between its direction and the respective A component. The problem is
cylindrically symmetrical thus it is appropriate to represent it through the Aϕ
component where A = Aϕ φˆ :
2π
µ e− jβ r
=Aϕ (θ ,ϕ )
4π
( I 0 a)
r ∫ (φˆ ⋅ φˆ ′)e jβ a sin θ cosϕ ′dϕ ′ . (12.15)
0

Since
⋅ φˆ ′ (xˆ cos ϕ + yˆ sin ϕ ) ⋅ (xˆ cos ϕ ′ + yˆ sin=
φˆ = ϕ ′)
= cos ϕ cos ϕ ′ + sin ϕ sin ϕ ′ = (12.16)
=cos(ϕ − ϕ ′) ϕ =0 =cos ϕ ′,
the vector potential is
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 2π
µ e− jβ r
=Aϕ (θ ,0)
4π
( I 0 a)
r ∫ cosϕ ′ ⋅ e jβ a sin θ cosϕ ′dϕ ′ , (12.17)
0

µ e− jβ rπ 2π

=Aϕ (θ ) ( I 0 a) ∫ cos ϕ ′ ⋅ e j β a sin θ cos ϕ ′
d ϕ ′ + ∫ cos ϕ ′ ⋅ e j β a sin θ cos ϕ ′ dϕ ′ .

4π r  0 π 
We apply the following substitution in the second integral: ϕ=′ ϕ ′′ + π . Then,
µ I 0 a e− jβ r π π 
Aϕ (θ )
=  ∫ cos ϕ ′⋅e j β a sin θ cos ϕ ′ dϕ ′ − ∫ cos ϕ ′′⋅e − j β a sin θ cos ϕ ′′ dϕ ′′ . (12.18)
4π r  0 0 
The integrals in (12.18) can be expressed in terms of Bessel functions, which
are defined as
π

∫ cos(nϕ )e jz cosϕ dϕ = π j n J n ( z ) . (12.19)

0

Here, J n ( z ) is the Bessel function of the first kind of order n. From (12.18) and
(12.19), it follows that
µ e− jβ r
Aϕ (θ ) ( I 0 a) π j  J1 ( β a sin θ ) − J1 ( − β a sin θ )  . (12.20)
4π r
Since
J n (− z ) =−
( 1) n J n ( z ) , (12.21)
equation (12.20) reduces to
µ e− jβ r
Aϕ (θ ) = j ( I 0 a ) J1 ( β a sin θ ) . (12.22)
2 r

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 0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
J1(x)

0.2
0.1
0
-0.1
-0.2
-0.3
-0.4
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
x

The far-zone fields are derived as

e− jβ r
Eϕ (θ ) = βη ( I 0 a ) J1 ( β a sin θ ),
2r
(12.23)
Eϕ e− jβ r
Hθ (θ ) = − = − β ( I 0 a) J1 ( β a sin θ ).
η 2r
The patterns of constant-current loops as per (12.23) are shown below:

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 The small-loop field solution in (12.3)-(12.4) is actually a first-order
approximation of the solution in (12.23). This becomes obvious when the
Bessel function is expanded in series as
1 1
J1 ( β a sin θ ) = ( β a sin θ ) − ( β a sin θ )3 + . (12.24)
2 16
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For small values of the argument ( β a < 1 / 3 ), the first-order approximation is
acceptable, i.e.,
1
J1 ( β a sin θ ) ≈ ( β a sin θ ) . (12.25)
2
The substitution of (12.25) in (12.23) yields (12.3)-(12.4).
It can be shown that the maximum of the pattern given by (12.23) is in the
direction θ = 90 for all loops, which have circumference C < 1.84λ .

Radiated power and radiation resistance

We substitute the Eϕ expression (12.23) in
1
= Π  ∫∫ 2η | Eϕ |2 ⋅ r
2 sin θ dθ dϕ ,
 
ds
which yields
π
(ωµ ) 2 2
=Π ( I 0 A) ⋅ ∫ J12 ( β a sin θ )sin θ dθ . (12.26)
4η 0

Here, A = π a 2 is the loop’s area. The integral in (12.26) does not have a closed
form solution. Often, the following transformation is applied:
π 2β a
1
∫ 1
J 2 ( β a sin θ )sin θ dθ =
βa ∫ J 2 ( x)dx . (12.27)
0 0

The second integral in (12.27) does not have a closed form solution either but it
can be approximated with highly convergent series, e.g.,
2β a ∞

∫ J 2 ( x)dx = 2 ∑ J 2 m +3 (2 β a ) . (12.28)
0 m =0

The radiation resistance is obtained as

2Π (ωµ )2 A ⋅ π J 2 ( β a sin θ )sin θ dθ .
=
Rr =
I 02 2η ∫ 1 (12.29)
0

The radiation resistance of small loops is very small. For example, for
λ / 100 < a < λ / 30 the radiation resistance increases from ≈ 3 × 10−3 up to

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≈ 0.5 Ω . This is often less than the loss resistance of the loop. That is why
small loop antennas are constructed with multiple turns and on ferromagnetic
cores. Such loop antennas have large inductive reactance, which is
compensated by a capacitor. This is convenient in narrowband receivers, where
the antenna itself is a very efficient filter (together with the tuning capacitor),
which can be tuned for different frequency bands.

4. Circular loop of nonuniform current

When the loop radius becomes larger than 0.2λ , the constant-current
assumption does not hold. A common assumption is the cosine distribution.1,2
Lindsay, Jr., 3 considers the circular loop to be a deformation of a shorted
parallel-wire line. If I s is the current magnitude at the “shorted” end, i.e., the
point opposite to the feed point where ϕ ′ = π , then
I (α ) = I s cosh(γ aα ) (12.30)
where α= π − ϕ ′ is the angle with respect to the shorted end, γ is the line
propagation constant and a is the loop radius. If we assume loss-free
transmission-line model, then γ = j β and cosh(γ aα ) = cos( β aα ) . For a loop in
open space, β is assumed to be the free-space wave number ( β = ω µ0ε 0 ).
The cosine distribution is not very accurate, especially close to the
terminals, and this has a negative impact on the accuracy of the computed input
impedance. That is why the current is often represented by a Fourier series:4,5
N
) I 0 + 2∑ I n cos(nϕ ′) .
I (ϕ ′= (12.31)
n =1

Here, ϕ ′ is measured from the feed point. The complete analysis of this general
case will be left out, and only some important results will be given. When the
circumference of the loop approaches λ , the maximum of the radiation pattern
shifts exactly along the loop’s normal. Then, the input resistance of the antenna
is also good (about 50 to 70 Ω). The maximum directivity occurs when

1
E.A. Wolff, Antenna Analysis, Wiley, New York, 1966.
2
A. Richtscheid, “Calculation of the radiation resistance of loop antennas with sinusoidal current distribution,” IEEE Trans.
Antennas Propagat., Nov. 1976, pp. 889-891.
3
J. E. Lindsay, Jr., “A circular loop antenna with non-uniform current distribution,” IRE Trans. Antennas Propagat., vol. AP-8,
No. 4, July 1960, pp. 439-441.
4
H. C. Pocklington, “Electrical oscillations in wire,” in Cambridge Phil. Soc. Proc., vol. 9, 1897, pp. 324–332.
5
J. E. Storer, “Input impedance of circular loop antennas,” Am. Inst. Electr. Eng. Trans., vol. 75, Nov. 1956.

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C ≈ 1.4λ but then the input impedance is too large. The input resistance and
reactance of the large circular loop are given below.

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(Note: typo in author’s name, read as J. E. Storer)

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 The large circular loop is very similar in its performance to the large square
loop. An approximate solution of very good accuracy for the square-loop
antenna can be found in
W.L. Stutzman and G.A. Thiele, Antenna Theory and Design, 2nd Ed., John
Wiley & Sons, New York, 1998.
There, it is assumed that the total antenna loop is exactly one wavelength and
has a sinusoidal current distribution along the loop’s wire.

λ
x 4

Principal plane patterns obtained through the sinusoidal-current assumption and

using numerical methods:

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5. Equivalent circuit of a loop antenna
Rr

LA
Cr

Li

Rl
Z in′ Z in
Cr - resonance capacitor
Rl - loss resistance of the loop antenna
Rr - radiation resistance
LA - inductance of the loop
Li - inductance of the loop conductor (wire)

(a) Loss resistance

Usually, it is assumed that the loss resistance of loosely wound loop equals
the high-frequency loss resistance of a straight wire of the same length as the
loop and of the same current distribution. In the case of a uniform current
distribution, the high-frequency resistance is calculated as
l π fµ
=Rhf =
Rs , Rs , Ω (12.32)
p σ
where l is the length of the wire, and p is the perimeter of the wire’s cross-
section. We are not concerned with the current distribution now because it can
be always taken into account in the same way as it is done for the
dipole/monopole antennas. However, another important phenomenon has to be
taken into account, namely the proximity effect.

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 ⊗ J1 J 2⊗

When the spacing between the wound wires is very small, the loss resistance
due to the proximity effect might be larger than that due to the skin effect. The
following formula is used to calculate exactly the loss resistance of a loop with
N turns, wire radius b, and loop separation 2c:
Na  R p 
=Rl Rs  + 1 (12.33)
b  R0 
where
Rs , Ω, is the surface resistance (see (12.32)),
R p , Ω / m, is the ohmic resistance per unit length due to the proximity
effect,
NRs
=R0 , Ω / m , is the ohmic resistance per unit length due to the skin
2π b
effect.

2a

2c

2b
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 The ratio R p / R0 has been calculated for different relative spacings c / b , for
loops with 2 ≤ N ≤ 8 in:
G.N. Smith, “The proximity effect in systems of parallel conductors,” J.
Appl. Phys., vol. 43, No. 5, May 1972, pp. 2196-2203.
The results are shown below:

(b) Loop inductance

The inductance of a single circular loop of radius a made of wire of radius b
is
  8a  
=LA1 µ a ln   − 2  . (12.34)
  b  

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The inductance of a square loop with sides a and wire radius b is calculated as
a  a 
=Lsq 2µ −
π   b  .
A1 ln 0.774 (12.35)

The inductance of a multi-turn coil is obtained from the inductance of a single-
turn loop multiplied by N 2 , where N is the number of turns.
The inductance of the wire itself is very small and is often neglected. It can
be shown that the DC self-inductance of a straight wire of length l is
µ0
=
Li ⋅l . (12.36)
8π
For a single loop, l = 2π a .

(c) Tuning capacitor

The susceptance of the capacitor Br must be chosen to eliminate the
susceptance of the loop. Assume that the equivalent admittance of the loop is
1 1
=
Yin = (12.37)
Z in Rin + jX in
where
R=
in Rr + Rl ,
X in jω ( LA + Li ) .
=
The following transformation holds:
Y=
in Gin + jBin (12.38)
where
Rin
Gin = ,
Rin2 + X in2
(12.39)
−X
Bin = 2 in 2 .
Rin + X in
The susceptance of the capacitor is
Br = ωCr . (12.40)

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For resonance to occur at f 0 = ω0 / (2π ) when the capacitor is in parallel with
the loop, the condition
Br = − Bin (12.41)
must be fulfilled. Therefore,
X in
2π f 0Cr = , (12.42)
Rin2 + X in2
1 X in
⇒ Cr = . (12.43)
2π f ( Rin2 + X in2 )
Under resonance, the input impedance Z in′ becomes
1 1 Rin2 + X in2
′ R
Z=
in =′
in = = , (12.44)
Gin′ Gin Rin
X in2
⇒ Z in′ = Rin + , Ω. (12.45)
Rin

5. The small loop as a receiving antenna

The small loop antennas have the following features:
1) high radiation resistance provided multi-turn ferrite-core constructions
are used;
2) high losses, therefore, low radiation efficiency;
3) simple construction, small size and weight.
Small loops are usually not used as transmitting antennas due to their low
efficiency ecd . However, they are much preferred as receiving antennas in AM
radio-receivers because of their high signal-to-noise ratio (they can be easily
tuned to form a very high-Q resonant circuit), their small size and low cost.
Loops are constructed as magnetic field probes to measure magnetic flux
densities. At higher frequencies (UHF and microwave), loops are used to
measure the EM field intensity. In this case, ferrite rods are not used.
Since the loop is a typical linearly polarized antenna, it has to be oriented
properly to optimize reception. The optimal case is a linearly polarized wave
with the H-field aligned with the loop’s axis.
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 z
i
ψ H

a θi Ei optimal
0 y incidence
ϕi

x Voc

The open-circuit voltage at the loop terminals is induced by the time-varying

magnetic flux through the loop:
Voc = jωΨ m = jω B ⋅ s = jωµ H z ⋅ π a 2 , (12.46)
H z = H i cosψ sin θi . (12.47)
Here,
Ψ m is the magnetic flux, Wb;
(θi ,ϕi ) are the angles specifying the direction of incidence;
ψ is the angle between the H i vector and the plane of incidence.
Finally, the open-circuit voltage can be expressed as
= ωµ SH i cosψ sin θi j β SE i cosψ sin θi .
Voc j= (12.48)
Here, S = π a 2 denotes the area of the loop, and β = ω µε is the phase
constant. Voc is maximum for θi = 90 and ψ = 0 .

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6. Ferrite loops
The radiation resistance and radiation efficiency can be raised by inserting a
ferrite core, which has high magnetic permeability in the operating frequency
band. Large magnetic permeability µ = µ0 µr means large magnetic flux Ψ m ,
and therefore large induced voltage Voc . The radiation resistance of a small loop
was already derived in (12.10) to include the number of turns, and it was shown
that it increases as  N 2 . Now the magnetic properties of the loop will be
included in the expression for Rr .
The magnetic properties of a ferrite core depend not only on the relative
magnetic permeability µr of the material it is made of but also on its geometry.
The increase in the magnetic flux is then more realistically represented by the
effective relative permeability (effective magnetic constant) µreff . We show
next that the radiation resistance of a ferrite-core loop is ( µreff ) 2 times larger
than the radiation resistance of the air-core loop of the same geometry. When
we calculated the far fields of a small loop, we made use of the equivalence
between an electric current loop and a magnetic current element:
jωµ ( IA) = I ml . (12.49)
From (12.49) it is obvious that the equivalent magnetic current is proportional
to µ . Then, it should be reminded that the field magnitudes are also
proportional to I m , and therefore they are proportional to µ as well. This
means that the radiated power Π rad is proportional to µ 2 , and therefore the
radiation resistance increases as  ( µreff ) 2 .
Finally, we can express the radiation resistance as
2
8  A
Rr = η0 π 3  N µreff 2  . (12.50)
3  λ 
Here, A = π a 2 is the loop area, and η0 = µ0 / ε 0 is the intrinsic impedance of
vacuum.
Some notes are made below with regard to the properties of ferrite cores:
• The effective magnetic constant of a ferrite core is always less than the
magnetic constant of the ferromagnetic material it is made of, i.e.,
µreff < µr . Toroidal cores have the highest µreff , and ferrite-stick cores
have the lowest µreff .

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 • The effective magnetic constant is frequency dependent. One has to be
careful when picking the right core for the application at hand.
• The magnetic losses of ferromagnetic materials increase with frequency.
At very high (microwave) frequencies, the magnetic losses are not
negligible. They have to be calculated and represented in the equivalent
circuit of the antenna as a shunt conductance Gm .

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