Analytical studies and experimental measurements of amplitude and phase of near-field range antenna probes

The effects of probe antenna errors in the basic theory of probe compensated near-field measurements for arbitrary antenna are presented. The study encompassed: (1) measurements made in the near-field of the arbitrary test antenna; (2) directional effects of probe antennas on reception by test antennas; and (3) computed patterns of test antennas that span a solid angle instead of one or two principal plane cuts. Results of experimental measurements conducted are reported with both advantages and disadvantages discussed. Fields from the test and probe antennas are expressed in elementary plane wave expansions and the Lorentz reciptrocity theorem is used to calculate the output.