Radiation Integrals and Auxiliary Potential

Functions
Ranga Rodrigo
June 23, 2010
Lecture notes are fully based on Balanis [?]. Some diagrams and text are directly
from the books.

Contents
1 The Vector Potential for an Electric Current Source J

2 Solution of the Inhomogeneous Vector Potential Equation

3 Far-Field Radiation

Introduction
In the analysis of radiation problems, the usual procedure is to specify
the sources and then require the fields radiated by the sources. This is in
contrast to the synthesis problem where the radiated fields are specified,
and we are required to determine the sources.
It is a very common practice in the analysis procedure to introduce auxiliary functions, known as vector potentials, which will aid in the solution
of the problems.
The most common vector potential functions are the A (magnetic vector
potential) and F (electric vector potential).

Sources J , M

Integration path 1

Radiated fields E , H

Integration
path 2

Differentiation
path 2

Vector potentials A, F
The Divergence
The basic definition of divergence is
H

S A dS
A = lim
.
v0
v
The expansion of divergence in Cartesian coordinates is
A =

A x A y A z
+
+
.
x
y
z

The Curl
The basic definition of curl is
H
A = lim

A dl
S

S0

i n.
max

The expansion of curl in Cartesian coordinates is

ix iy iz

A = x
y
z .

Ax A y Az

Vector Identities
div curl = 0

A = 0

curl grad = 0

= 0

Maxwells Equations in Integral Form

Z
d
E dl =
B d S.
(Faradays law)
dt S
Z
IC
Z
d
H dl = J dS +
D d S.
(Ampres circuital law)
d
t
C
S
S
I
Z
D d S = d v.
(Gauss law for the electric field)
S
V
I
B d S = 0.
(Gauss law for the magnetic field)
I

Auxiliary equation
d
J dS =
dt
S

Z
V

d v. (Law of conservation of charges)

Other relations
D = E ,
B
H =
,

Maxwells Equations in Differential Form

B
.
t
D
H = J +
.
t
D = .
E =

B = 0.
Auxiliary equation
J =

Maxwells Equations in Free Space

.
t

B
.
t
D
H =
.
t
D = 0.
E =

B = 0.

1 The Vector Potential for an Electric Current Source

J

The vector potential A is useful in solving for the EM field generated by a

given harmonic electric current J .
The magnetic flux B is always solenoidal; that is, B = 0.
Therefore, it can be represented as the curl of another vector because it obeys
the vector identity
A = 0.
where A is an arbitrary vector. Thus we define
B A = H A = A.
We can substitute this into Maxwells curl equation E A = j H A ,
E A = j A.
This can also be written as

E A + j A = 0.
From the vector identity (e ) = 0, it follows that
E A + j A = e ,
or
E A = e j A.
4

(1)

The scalar function e represents an arbitrary electric scalar potential which is

a function of position. Taking the curl of both sides of Eq. 1 and using the vector
identity A = ( A) 2 A, reduces it to
(H A ) = ( A) 2 A
For homogeneous medium,
H A = ( A) 2 A
Using Maxwells equation, H A = J + j E A ,
J + j E A = ( A) 2 A
Substituting 11,
2 A + k 2 A = J + ( A + j e )
where k 2 = 2 . In 1 the curl of A was defined. Now we are at liberty to define
the divergence of A, which is independent of its curl. Let
A = j e ,
which is known as the Lorentz condition. Substituting,
2 A + k 2 A = J .
In addition, 11 leads to
E A = e j A = j A j

1
( A).

(2)

Once A is known, H A can be found from Eq. 1 and E A from Eq. 2. E A can just
as easily be found from Maxwells equation, H A = J + j E A , with J = 0. It
will be shown later how to find A in terms of the current density J . It will be a
solution to the inhomogeneous Helmholtz equation of Eq. 11.

Although magnetic currents appear to be physically unrealizable, equivalent magnetic currents arise when we use the volume or the surface
equivalence theorems.
The fields generated by a harmonic magnetic current in a homogeneous
region, with J = 0 but M 6= 0, must satisfy D = 0.
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 Therefore, E F can be expressed as the curl of the vector potential F by

1
EF = F .

(3)

F = j m

(4)

By letting
we can obtain
2 F + k 2 F = M.
Once F is known, E F can be found from Eq. 3 and H F with M = 0. It will be
shown later how to find F once M is known. It will be a solution to the inhomogeneous Helmholtz equation of 4.
Total Fields
Now, we have developed equations that can be used to find the electric and
magnetic fields generated by an electric current source J and a magnetic current source M. The procedure requires that the auxiliary potential functions
A and F generated, respectively, by J and M are found first. In turn, the corresponding electric and magnetic fields are then determined (E A ,H A due to A
and E F ,H F due to F ). The total fields are then obtained by the superposition of
the individual fields due to A and F (J and M).

E = E A +EF
H = H A + HF

1
1
1
1
( A) F =
HA F.

1
1
1
1
= A j F j
( F ) = A
EF .

= j A j

2 Solution of the Inhomogeneous Vector Potential

Equation
The solution of the inhomogeneous vector wave equation is

e j kR
A=
J
d v 0.
4
R
V
To derive it, let us assume that a source with current density J z , which in the
limit is an infinitesimal source, is placed at the origin of a x, y, z coordinate
system.
6

(x, y, z)

(x 0 , y 0 , z 0 )

x
Since the current density is directed along the z-axis (J z ), only an A z component will exist. Thus we can write 2 A + k 2 A = J as
2 A z + k 2 A z = J z .
At points outside of the infinitesimal source,
2 A z + k 2 A z = 0.

(5)

Point source: A z is not a function of direction ( and ) and A z = A z (r ), where

r is the radial distance.

1
2
2
2 A z (r )
r
+ k 2 A z (r ) = 0.
A z (r ) + k A z (r ) = 2
r r
r
d 2 A z (r ) 2 d A z (r )
+
+ k 2 A z (r ) = 0.
dr 2
r dr
This differential equation has two independent solutions
e j kr
A z1 = C 1
:
r
A z2 = C 2

e + j kr
:
r

radially outward traveling wave.

radially inward traveling wave.

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Therefore, we choose

e j kr
.
r
In the static case ( = 0, k = 0), this simplifies to
A z = A z1 = C 1

Az =

C1
.
r

which is the solution to the wave equation 6 when k = 0. Thus at points outside
the source, the time-varying and static solutions differ only by e j kr , the phase
retardation factor.
In the presence of the source (J z 6= 0), and k = 0, the wave equation reduces
to
2 A z = J z .
(6)
This equation is recognized to be Poissons equation, the most familiar form
being that relates the scalar electric potential to the electric charge density .

2 = .

The solution is

1
=
4

0
dv ,
r

where r is the distance from any point in the charge density to the observation
point. Using a similar form

Jz
Az =
d v 0.
4
V r
This represents the static solution. The time-varying solution is

Az =
4

Jz

e j kr
d v 0.
r

If we consider the current densities in x- and y-directions (J x , and J y ),

A=

J
V

e j kr
d v 0.
r

If the source is removed from the origin and placed at a position represented by
(x 0 , y 0 , z 0 ),

e j kR
J (x 0 , y 0 , z 0 )
d v 0.
A(x, y, z) =
4
R
V

where (x, y, z) is the observation point and R is the distance from any point on
the source to the observation point. In a similar fashion we can obtain

F (x, y, z) =
4

M(x 0 , y 0 , z 0 )

e j kR
d v 0.
R

If J and M represent linear densities,

A(x, y, z) =

F (x, y, z) =
4

J s (x 0 , y 0 , z 0 )

e j kR 0
ds .
R

e j kR 0
M s (x , y , z )
ds .
R
S
0

For electric and magnetic current I e and I m

A(x, y, z) =
4
F (x, y, z) =

Z
C

I e (x 0 , y 0 , z 0 )

e j kR 0
dl .
R

I m (x 0 , y 0 , z 0 )

e j kR 0
dl .
R

3 Far-Field Radiation
The far-fields radiated by antennas of finite dimensions are spherical waves.
For these radiators, a general solution to the vector wave equation is spherical
components is
A = a r A r (r, , ) + a A (r, , ) + a A (r, , ).
The amplitude variations of r in each component are of the form 1/r n . Neglecting the higher order terms, for large r ,
h
i e j kr
.
A ' a r A 0r (r, , ) + a A 0 (r, , ) + a A 0 (r, , )
r
Consider
E A = e j A = j A j

1
( A).

If we evaluate the second term in spherical coordinates, we will notice that

higher powers of 1/r are produced. Neglecting them,
E A ' j A

for and components.

9

Neglecting the higher order terms of 1/r n , the radiated E - and H -fields have
only and components. They can be expressed as
E r ' 0,
E ' j A ,
E ' j A .
Hr ' 0,

E
A = ,

H ' j A = + .

H ' + j

Radial far-field terms exist only for higher order terms of 1/r n .
In a similar manner, the far-zone fields due to magnetic source M (potential
F )can be written as
Hr ' 0,
H ' j F ,
H ' j F .
E r ' 0,
E ' j F = H ,
E ' + j F = H
The corresponding far-zone E - and H -field components are orthogonal to each
other and form TEM (to r ) mode fields.

10