Compact Antenna for Through-the-Earth Mine Communication

Abstract This research paper presents a planar Archimedean spiral antenna design for through-the-earth (TTE) mine communication. A study has been conducted to analyze the effect of factors such as depth, radial distance, loop antenna current, loop antenna radius, and conductivity of earth on TTE communication. The larger the radius of the loop antenna, the lower the frequency, the decrease in radial distance from the loop, and the increase in depth leads to a stronger magnetic field. As the loop current increases, signal strength increases. Lower conductivity allows a more extended range. Based on the study, the Archimedean spiral antenna is proposed to offer improved magnetic field strength over the conventional loop antenna while maintaining a lower thickness profile. The results demonstrate that the antenna size can be decreased without sacrificing performance by switching from a traditional loop antenna to a planar Archimedean spiral antenna. The suggested antenna offers a 50% size reduction compared to the standard single-turn loop antenna. Additionally, comparisons between the reported measured findings and the simulated outcomes are made. Cite this article as: A. K. Tiwary, R. S. Singh and V. R. Gupta, "Compact antenna for through-the-earth mine communication," Electrica, 25, 0144, 2025. doi: 10.5152/ electrica.2025.23144.