How do antennas/transmitters work?

[borjame]

Looking at the responses to some of these threads this will either be a ridiculously simple answer or way too esoteric for a plain ol' Mech. E. like myself, but here goes-
How do antennas and transmitters work? I'm looking for an answer on the subatomic level with plenty of Maxwell's Eqn's thrown in with explanation, not just "It's a hunk of metal with some alternating current in it" or is it just that simple? Where is good source for info on electromagnetic propogation? Thanks in advance!

 

[VEBill]

Check out the latest message (15th message; from K4ERO) posted to the "nature of sine waves--any philosophers out there?" thread. There is a link to a good website.

 

[borjame]

Thanks!

 

[jbartos]

Suggestion: Visit

http://www.qsl.net/n1bwt/contents.htm

for more info

 

[yknot]

The quick answer:
any accelerated charge will produce an electromagnetic wave. Antennas are structures of metal that form currents on them that radiate with phase relationships that produce radiation field patterns.

easy starter book: Antennas by Krause

 

[VEBill]

"The wireless telegraph is not difficult to understand. The ordinary telegraph is like a very long cat - you pull the tail in New York, and it meows in Los Angeles. The wireless is the same, only without the cat."

- Albert Einstein