Formula Used:
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The Quality factor is defined as the quotient between the power stored in the reactive field and the radiated power. It represents the efficiency of energy storage in the antenna system relative to energy dissipation.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the quality factor by dividing the inductive reactance by twice the sum of loss resistance and radiation resistance of the small loop.
Details: The quality factor is crucial for understanding antenna efficiency, bandwidth characteristics, and overall performance. A higher Q factor indicates better energy storage capability relative to energy loss.
Tips: Enter inductive reactance, loss resistance, and radiation resistance values in ohms. All values must be positive numbers greater than zero for accurate calculation.
Q1: What is a typical range for quality factor values?
A: Quality factor values typically range from 10 to several hundred, depending on the antenna design and operating frequency.
Q2: How does quality factor affect antenna bandwidth?
A: Higher quality factors generally correspond to narrower bandwidths, while lower quality factors indicate wider bandwidths.
Q3: What factors influence the quality factor of a loop antenna?
A: The quality factor is influenced by the antenna's physical dimensions, material properties, operating frequency, and surrounding environment.
Q4: Can quality factor be too high?
A: Yes, extremely high quality factors can lead to very narrow bandwidths, making the antenna sensitive to frequency variations and environmental changes.
Q5: How can I improve the quality factor of my loop antenna?
A: Improving conductor quality, reducing loss resistance, and optimizing antenna geometry can help increase the quality factor.