The theoretical development of planar near-field antenna measurements is usually based on this plane wave spectrum (PWS) representation of electromagnetic (EM) fields. This generalized interpretation can be shown to stem from the free-space solution of the scalar wave equation, which itself follows directly from classical EM theory and Maxwell's equations where the four Maxwell equations are postulated, mathematical generalizations of a great many macroscopic experimental observations of electricity and magnetism. The validity of these phenomenological physical laws is attested to by the extraordinarily good agreement attained between measurement and prediction.

Inspec keywords: Maxwell equations; electromagnetic waves

Other keywords: magnetism; electromagnetic waves; plane wave spectrum representation; electromagnetic fields; scalar wave equation; planar near-field antenna measurements; classical EM theory; free space solution; Maxwell's equations; electricity

Subjects: Electromagnetic waves: theory