The fractal loop antenna: a comparison of fractal and non-fractal geometries

Fractal antennas have been shown to demonstrate repetitive multi-band or log-periodic behavior that has been attributed to the self-similar scale factor of the antenna's geometry. Additionally, fractal loop antennas have been shown to demonstrate improved impedance and SWR performance in a reduced physical area when compared to non-fractal Euclidean geometries. The purpose of this paper is to numerically model fractal and non-fractal loop antennas occupying the same physical area in an effort to understand whether the fractal geometry of the loop is the significant parameter in determining the loop performance. It is demonstrated through numerical modeling that the fractal geometry is not the critical factor in determining the loop performance and in fact, non-fractal geometries offer similar and in some cases, improved performance over their fractal counterparts.