Wave Propagation

Dola Sanjay S
Professor and Principal
Ramachandra College of
Engineering
dicedola@gmail.com

Introduction
The propagation of radio waves takes place
in several ways
Ground wave propagation
Sky wave propagation
Space wave propagation

Ground-Wave Propagation

Using either the

spherical, Terrestrial
waveguide of earth
and atmosphere or
surface wave
clinging to the
earth and travelling
along the surface.

Sky Wave Propagation

Using the
physical
conditions of
the ionosphere
to reflect and
refract the radio
waves towards
earth.

Space Wave
Propagation
Using (LOS)Line-ofsight, by ground
reflections,
atmospheric refraction
and diffraction of
obstacles

Electromagnetic Spectrum

Structure of Atmosphere

The Ionosphere
Regions
D-Layer
30-60 miles altitude
Rapidly disappears at
Sunset
Rapidly re-forms at
Sunrise
Absorbs long wavelength
radio waves
160m, 80m, and 40m generally
unuseable during the day

The Ionosphere

Regions

E-Layer
60-70 miles altitude
One hop up to 1,200 miles

Acts similar to D-layer

Lasts longer into the night
Less absorption during the
day

Enables auroral
propagation
at northern latitudes

The Ionosphere

Regions

F-Layer
100-300 miles altitude
One-hop up to 2,500 miles

Can remain partially

ionized at night
Splits into F1 and F2
layer during the day
F1 layer = 100-140 miles.
F2 layer = 200-300 miles.

Long-range HF
propagation

Electron density

Skip distance- Effect of ionosphere

on rays

The
distance
within which a
signal of given
frequency fails to
be reflected back
is
the
skip
distance for that
frequency
or
minimum distance
from
transmitter
at
which
a
frequency will be
returned

Reflection, Refraction, and Diffraction

These three properties are shared by light
and radio waves
For both reflection and refraction, it is
assumed that the surfaces involved are
much larger than the wavelength; if not,
diffraction will occur

Reflection
Reflection of waves from a smooth surface
(specular reflection) results in the angle of
reflection being equal to the angle of incidence

Refraction
A transition from one
medium to another
results in the bending
of radio waves, just
as it does with light
Snells Law governs
the behavior of
electromagnetic
waves being
refracted:
n1 sin1 n2 sin 2

Refractive index
From Snells formula
n1 sin1 n2 sin 2

Diffraction
As a result of
diffraction,
electromagnetic
waves can appear to
go around corners
Diffraction is more
apparent when the
object has sharp
edges, that is when
the dimensions are
small in comparison
to the wavelength

Critical frequency
The critical frequency is the
highest frequency that is
returned by a layer at
vertical incidence

Secant Law

Maximum usable
frequency
Maximum frequency
that can be Reflected
back for a given
distance of
transmission is called
MUF

Virtual Height
The transmission path distance, TR= 2h/tan
= angle of elevation
h= virtual height

Effect of earths magnetic field

In
general,
the
electron paths will be
helixes,
at
one
particular frequency
called gyro frequency
the electron path
becomes very wide
single loop.

Ducting

Under certain conditions, especially over

water, a superrefractive layer can form in
the troposphere and return signals to earth
The signals can then propagate over long
distances by alternately reflecting from the
earth and refracting from the
superrefractive layer
A related condition involves a thin
tropospheric layer with a high refractive
index, so that a duct forms

Ducting

Fading of
signals
Methods of
minimizing effects of
fading
Space Diversity
Frequency Diversity
Polarization Diversity
Time Diversity