An Experimental Study of Radio Wave Propagation in Simulated Forests and Other Dissipative Environments

摘要

An experimental investigation was carried out with the two-fold scope of (1) developing a technique for electromagnetic simulation of a forest environment under laboratory conditions, and (2) using this technique to determine the validity of a lateral wave interpretation of the field of an antenna located inside the forest. The simulation aspect was achieved by means of a parallel-plate set-up which affords a two-dimensional model of the forest by employing suitable materials between the two plates. An electromagnetic field was applied by means of suitable antennas and measurements were carried out which duplicate the probing of fields along a smooth contour representing the tree tops in an actual forest. The amplitude of these fields was found to agree very well with the expected theoretical behavior and the lateral wave aspect was confirmed. (Author)