Performance of both‐way communications using a magnetic dipole near the sea surface

Abstract

Abstract Wireless data transmission near the sea surface can be realized by electromagnetic (EM) waves. The transmitting antenna is one of the most important parts of the EM communication system. The optimal antenna form can greatly improve communication performance. In this work, theoretical and experimental studies were presented for analysing the communication performance of magnetic dipoles near the sea surface. The influence of the seabed on the EM waves propagation near the sea surface was analysed. The model based on vector potential was built to study the radiation of magnetic dipoles in three‐layered conducting media. The experiments on the sea were conducted to comprehensively verify the EM waves propagation from seawater to seawater, seawater to air, air to air, and air to seawater. The good agreement of the theoretical and experimental results indicates that the performance of a horizontal magnetic dipole is superior to that of a vertical magnetic dipole in both‐way communications between seawater and air. The studies in this work are helpful for antenna design and system development in wireless data transmission near the sea surface.

Keywords

• electromagnetic wave propagation
• lateral wave
• magnetic dipole
• underwater antennas
• underwater communications