The thesis designs, constructs, and tests an electrically small dipole antenna probe for the measurement of electric field distributions induced by a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) coil. Its unique features include high spatial resolution, large frequency band from 100 Hz to 300 kHz, efficient feedline isolation via a printed Dyson balun, and accurate mitigation of noise. Prior work in this area is thoroughly reviewed. The proposed probe design is realized in hardware; implementation details and design tradeoffs are described. Test data is presented for the measurement of a CW capacitor electric field, demonstrating the probe’s ability to properly measure conservative electric fields caused by a charge distribution. Test data is also presented for the measurement of a CW solenoidal electric field, demonstrating the probe’s ability to measure non-conservative solenoidal electric fields caused by Faraday’s law of induction. Those are the primary fields for the transcranial magnetic stimulation. Advantages and disadvantages of this probing system versus those of prior works are discussed. Further refinement steps necessary for the development of this probe as a valuable TMS instrument are discussed.

Electric and magnetic fields in the vicinity of strong sources of radiation (e.g. radar and broadcasting) can exceed the limits mentioned in the national standards for the exposition of persons. Field probes are needed to warn personnel if they are going too close to the RF-sources. For acceptance reasons the field probes should be universal in such a way that no user adjustment of frequency is required. The limits for power density, electric and magnetic field strength depend on the frequency. In contrast, field probes covering a large frequency range, e.g. 1 MHz to 18 GHz or even larger, normally have a flat frequency response. Therefore, the person using the field probe has to know the frequency of the electromagnetic field and to evaluate fieldstrength with respect to the frequency dependent limit value defined by law. Human mistakes while making that evaluation can lead to expositions above the limit value. On the other hand, the evaluation of the power density in the presence of multiple strong sources of radiation at different frequencies with different limit values also leads to measurement problems. A new approach has been undertaken to overcome these difficulties in the development of a rectifying field probe. It consists in shaping the antenna factor of the probe inversely proportional to the limit value. The isotropic response of field probes can be achieved, if three dipole antennas are arranged perpendicular to each other. The presence of dielectric supporting material leads to degradation of the isotropic response of such a field probe. The effect will be investigated. For typical substrates the isotropic response is degraded by up to 3.8 dB. An compensation for this effect will be proposed that leads to a residual unisotropic response of less than 0.2 dB.

Electric and magnetic fields in the vicinity of strong sources of radiation (e.g. radar and broadcasting) can exceed the limits mentioned in the national standards for the exposition of persons. Field probes are needed to warn personnel if they are going too close to the RF-sources. For acceptance reasons the field probes should be universal in such a way that no user adjustment of frequency is required. The limits for power density, electric and magnetic field strength depend on the frequency. In contrast, field probes covering a large frequency range, e.g. 1 MHz to 18 GHz or even larger, normally have a flat frequency response. Therefore, the person using the field probe has to know the frequency of the electromagnetic field and to evaluate fieldstrength with respect to the frequency dependent limit value defined by law. Human mistakes while making that evaluation can lead to expositions above the limit value. On the other hand, the evaluation of the power density in the presence of multiple strong sources of radiation at different frequencies with different limit values also leads to measurement problems. A new approach has been undertaken to overcome these difficulties in the development of a rectifying field probe. It consists in shaping the antenna factor of the probe inversely proportional to the limit value. The isotropic response of field probes can be achieved, if three dipole antennas are arranged perpendicular to each other. The presence of dielectric supporting material leads to degradation of the isotropic response of such a field probe. The effect will be investigated. For typical substrates the isotropic response is degraded by up to 3.8 dB. An compensation for this effect will be proposed that leads to a residual unisotropic response of less than 0.2 dB.