On Mar 3, 8:45 am, "Howard Lester" wrote:
"Engineered metamaterials enable remarkably small antennas"

In their latest prototype device, the research team used a metal wire
antenna printed on a small square of copper measuring less than 65
millimeters on a side. The antenna is wired to a signal source. Mounted o
n
the back of the square is a "Z element" that acts as a metamaterial a
Z-shaped strip of copper with an inductor (a device that stores energy
magnetically) in the center (see photo).


Well, the old saying "you cannot change physics" will still apply.
Getting something to launch energy into space is not that hard, even
dummy loads do that. Making it an efficient process is a bit more
difficult. The ISOTRON antennas do "work" (I own three of them) but
they are really poor devices for launching energy into space (unless
you count heating the attic). They work better than my dummy load,
but not by that much considering what they cost.

Don't we already have 1/4 wavelength verticals that are pretty good at
launching energy into free space? The article says they can cut that
down to 1/5 wavelength. That takes a 10 Meter antenna and makes it
into an 8 meter antenna, what’s the big deal with that?

Does somebody know the maximum efficiency of a 1/4 wave vertical and
how does that compare to 95%? (Even with almost perfect ground
resistance?)

I'm thinking they may have succeeded in making a low resistance
material that cuts down on IR losses, but I got a feeling the advanced
materials will be way to expensive to use for your average HF rig
running 100 W given the efficiency and cost of what we already have.

-= bob =-