A study of VLF antennas immersed in sea water: theoretical, numerical, and experimental results

The problem of receiving VLF electromagnetic fields with an underwater electric antenna is of great interest, especially for military-application purposes. In this study, a simple and closed-form expression for the E field in sea water is derived from two physical models, which agree but are different: the surface-wave theory and the Fresnel formulas. Three configurations of immersed receiving antennas are investigated by means of computer simulations. The scattered electric field and expected measured voltage are computed, using an EFIE [electric-field integral equation], and the method of moments (MoM). Then, an equivalent-circuit model of the underwater antenna is investigated, with a focus on two dominant antenna parameters: the impedance and the voltage measured between the wire terminals. Calculations and computed results are compared with off-shore measurements.