Broadband dual polarized radiator for surface wave transmission line

A radio frequency transmission and radiation system comprising:

• a surface wave transmission line adapted for transmission of an RF surface wave along said surface wave transmission line in a direction toward one terminus of said surface wave transmission line with the electromagnetic field of said RF surface wave being substantially confined to a substantially cylindrical energy bundle that concentrically surrounds said surface wave transmission line;
• a reflector attached to said terminus of said surface wave transmission line, said reflector being of increasing cross-sectional geometry relative to the direction in which said RF surface wave travels along said surface wave transmission line, said reflector having an outer surface that includes an electrically conductive pattern, said electrically conductive pattern including an electrically conductive region that is centrally located on said surface of said reflector with said surface wave transmission line being attached to said electrically conductive central region and said electrically conductive central region exhibiting an area greater than the cross-sectional area of said surface wave transmission line, said electrically conductive pattern further including a plurality of outwardly extending electrically conductive arms that are equally spaced apart from one another and are electrically interconnected to said centrally located electrically conductive region, each of said arms being configured and dimensioned to form log-periodic elements.