Design of Segmented Ultra-Wideband TEM Horn Antenna for Calibration of Wideband Electromagnetic Pulse Sensors

Zhang, Tianchi; Wei, Yongli; Wang, Yuan; Duan, Changjiao; Wang, Lihua; Li, Zongxiang; Li, Xiao; Li, Xin; Cao, Baofeng

doi:10.3390/s25123599

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Design of Segmented Ultra-Wideband TEM Horn Antenna for Calibration of Wideband Electromagnetic Pulse Sensors

by

Tianchi Zhang

¹,

Yongli Wei

¹,

Yuan Wang

¹

,

Changjiao Duan

^1,2,

Lihua Wang

^1,2,

Zongxiang Li

¹

,

Xiao Li

¹,

Xin Li

^1,* and

Baofeng Cao

^1,*

¹

State Key Laboratory of Chemistry for NBC Hazards Protection, Beijing 102205, China

²

College of Information and Communication Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Sensors 2025, 25(12), 3599; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25123599 (registering DOI)

Submission received: 6 May 2025 / Revised: 4 June 2025 / Accepted: 6 June 2025 / Published: 7 June 2025

(This article belongs to the Section Electronic Sensors)

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Abstract

Wideband electromagnetic pulse detection is a crucial method for lightning disaster monitoring. However, the random nature of lightning events presents challenges in fulfilling real-time calibration requirements for electromagnetic pulse sensors. This paper introduces a segmented ultra-wideband TEM horn antenna tailored for portable calibration experiments in electromagnetic pulse detection systems. The radiating plates feature a four-section polygonal design, and an end-loaded metal plate is integrated to reduce reflection signal interference. Rigorous simulation analyses were performed on three key factors impacting antenna radiation performance: aperture impedance, tapering profile, and end loading configuration. Experimental results show that the designed antenna achieves a peak field strength of 48.9 V/m at a 10 m distance, with a rise time of 0.87 ns and a full width at half maximum of 1.75 ns. The operating frequency ranges from 48 MHz to 150 MHz, with main lobe beamwidths of 43° and 83° in the E-plane and H-plane radiation patterns, respectively. These parameters meet the technical requirements for electromagnetic pulse sensor calibration experiments.

Keywords: ultra-wideband antenna; segmented design; wideband electromagnetic pulse; sensor calibration

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MDPI and ACS Style

Zhang, T.; Wei, Y.; Wang, Y.; Duan, C.; Wang, L.; Li, Z.; Li, X.; Li, X.; Cao, B. Design of Segmented Ultra-Wideband TEM Horn Antenna for Calibration of Wideband Electromagnetic Pulse Sensors. Sensors 2025, 25, 3599. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25123599

AMA Style

Zhang T, Wei Y, Wang Y, Duan C, Wang L, Li Z, Li X, Li X, Cao B. Design of Segmented Ultra-Wideband TEM Horn Antenna for Calibration of Wideband Electromagnetic Pulse Sensors. Sensors. 2025; 25(12):3599. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25123599

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhang, Tianchi, Yongli Wei, Yuan Wang, Changjiao Duan, Lihua Wang, Zongxiang Li, Xiao Li, Xin Li, and Baofeng Cao. 2025. "Design of Segmented Ultra-Wideband TEM Horn Antenna for Calibration of Wideband Electromagnetic Pulse Sensors" Sensors 25, no. 12: 3599. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25123599

APA Style

Zhang, T., Wei, Y., Wang, Y., Duan, C., Wang, L., Li, Z., Li, X., Li, X., & Cao, B. (2025). Design of Segmented Ultra-Wideband TEM Horn Antenna for Calibration of Wideband Electromagnetic Pulse Sensors. Sensors, 25(12), 3599. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25123599

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Design of Segmented Ultra-Wideband TEM Horn Antenna for Calibration of Wideband Electromagnetic Pulse Sensors

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