Q343 : Modeling antennas with HIFREQ

Question
Is it possible to model a communication tower antenna with HIFREQ? How should it be energized?

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Answer
The antenna can be modeled as a wire-mesh structure. As for the energization of the antenna, it depends on the purpose of the model. If the purpose is to find out the pattern of the fields generated by the operating antenna, then a voltage energization of the appropriate strength should be used at the feed point of the antenna. If it is to find out the fields radiated by the antenna when lightning strikes the tower, then the energization should be that of the lightning hitting the tower (in other words, the antenna should not be energized by a voltage source in that case.)

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