isotropic radiator

Part of the TechTarget Network of Enterprise IT Web Sites
Home Look It Up ITKnowledge Exchange Fast References Products White Papers Blogs

Search our IT-specific encyclopedia for:
 
OR Jump to a topic:
 
Advanced Search
Browse alphabetically:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #
All Categories Electronics

isotropic radiator

An isotropic radiator is a transducer that produces useful electromagnetic field output in all directions with equal intensity, and at 100-percent efficiency, in three-dimensional space. If used for signal reception, the device is equally sensitive in all directions. In wireless communications and broadcasting, the isotropic radiator (also called an isotropic antenna ) is a theoretical ideal. It is sometimes referred to as a point source .

In wireless applications, an isotropic radiator can be approximated by constructing a single-turn square loop with a circumference of 1/2 wavelength , and then giving the loop a half-twist along an axis that lies in the plane of the loop.

The isotropic radiator is useful primarily as a standard laboratory reference source. The behavior and performance of more complex antennas is measured against it. A dipole antenna , for example, has signal output and sensitivity approximately 2.15 decibel s greater, in its favored directions, than the output and sensitivity of an isotropic antenna.



Last updated on: Sep 21, 2005

>  Enterprise Software related Research & News
>  White Papers for the Retail Industry

Are you a Know-IT-All?
Is an electron’s charge positive or negative?
Answer

WORD OF THE DAY...
Net neutrality
LEARN MORE ABOUT...
Buzz Alert: Craigslist criminal
Our Latest Discovery
Learning Guides and Tutorials
Our 60 tech-specific sites
WhatIs.com RSS Feeds
Home Look It Up ITKnowledge Exchange Fast References Products White Papers Blogs
About Us   |   Contact Us   |   For Advertisers   |   For Business Partners   |   Reprints   |   RSS   |   Awards
TechTarget provides enterprise IT professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective IT purchase decisions and managing their organizations' IT projects - with its network of technology-specific Web sites, events and magazines.

TechTarget Corporate Web Site  |  Media Kits  |  Reprints  |  Site Map




All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2008, TechTarget | Read our Privacy Policy
  TechTarget - The IT Media ROI Experts