Analysis of a Half-Wave Dipole in Free and Half-Space Revisited: Analytical and Numerical Modeling Versus Measurements

This paper revisits the determination of the current distribution and input impedance of a half-wave dipole in free space and half-space by employing analytical and numerical methods based on image theory and the Fresnel reflection coefficient. An analytical solution for the input impedance in half-space was derived using an analytical approach based on a sinusoidal current distribution and a average reflection coefficient. By contrast, the numerical method computes the current distribution and input impedance by solving Pocklington’s integro-differential equation using the Galerkin–Bubnov scheme of the Indirect Boundary Element Method. Finally, the analytically calculated and numerically computed results of the input impedance were benchmarked against the NEC and FEKO software packages and compared with the measured values. This study demonstrates that integrating the analytical electric field with a sinusoidal current distribution accurately predicts input resistance in free space and half-space, with the experimental discrepancies below 15%. In conclusion, this analytical closed-form solution offers a practical alternative to computationally demanding numerical methods.