stralingskarakteristieken

Stralingskarakteristieken refer to the directional properties of electromagnetic radiation emitted or received by an antenna. These characteristics describe how power is distributed in different directions. The primary characteristic is the radiation pattern, which is a graphical representation of the antenna's power output versus direction. This pattern can be visualized in three dimensions or as a two-dimensional slice. Key features of a radiation pattern include the main lobe, which points in the direction of maximum radiation, and side lobes, which are smaller lobes in other directions. Nulls are directions where the radiation is minimal.

Antenna gain is another important characteristic, quantifying how well an antenna concentrates power in a specific direction compared to an isotropic radiator (a theoretical antenna radiating equally in all directions). Directivity is closely related to gain and measures the concentration of radiation without considering losses. Beamwidth is the angular width of the main lobe, typically measured at the half-power points (where the power is half of the maximum). A narrower beamwidth indicates a more focused beam.

The radiation pattern can be described in terms of azimuth (horizontal angle) and elevation (vertical angle). Understanding these characteristics is crucial for selecting an appropriate antenna for a given application, such as communication systems, radar, and broadcasting, ensuring efficient signal transmission and reception.