Currents on remote metallic objects such as landmines can be induced by projecting strong magnetic fields. These currents result in electromagnetic fields that can be subsequently detected. The magnetic field varies slowly as it passes from air into the ground and is sufficient to excite currents in buried metallic objects. Traditionally strong magnetic fields are produced using short-range transformer like inductive coupling, or as a component of powerful propagating electromagnetic fields. The strength of the magnetic component of the propagating electromagnetic field is restricted by regulatory limits on the total radiated radio frequency power. There is a need for a means to produce forward projected strong magnetic field at medium ranges with low-level propagation. This paper reports on a non-radiating loop antenna which maintains a constant amplitude and phase current around the loop and projects a strong magnetic field. The radiated field is small and results from the relativistic time-of-flight effect from one side of the loop to the other. The result is that a very strong magnetic field is produced in the near- to mid-field region, up to one wavelength away from the loop. Experiments with a prototype antenna and modeling show that the H-field is very high, radiated electromagnetic fields are negligible, and the drop off in field strength is inversely proportional to the distance squared. This agreement between experiments and modeling allows for a design based on computer simulations.

Date Published: 7 June 2013
PDF: 10 pages
Proc. SPIE 8709, Detection and Sensing of Mines, Explosive Objects, and Obscured Targets XVIII, 87090E (7 June 2013); doi: 10.1117/12.2016543

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8709:
Detection and Sensing of Mines, Explosive Objects, and Obscured Targets XVIII
J. Thomas Broach; Jason C. Isaacs, Editor(s)