A fractal antenna is an antenna that uses a fractal design to maximize the length of material that can receive or transmit electromagnetic signals within a given total surface area. For this reason, fractal antennas are very compact and are anticipated to have useful applications in cellular telephone and microwave communications.
Fractal antenna response differs markedly from traditional antenna designs, in that it is capable of operating optimally at many different frequencies simultaneously. Normally standard antennae have to be "cut" for the frequency for which they are to be used -- and thus the standard antennae only optimally work at that frequency. This makes the fractal antenna an excellent design for broadband applications.
Contrast: Waveguide antenna.
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