RF Glossary: A | Terms Starting with A

Absorption Loss — The portion of transmission loss caused by energy dissipation within the propagation medium.

Active Antenna — An antenna that integrates active electronic components such as amplifiers or mixers.

Adapter (Coaxial Adapter) — A passive device used to connect two different types of RF connectors.

AGC (Automatic Gain Control) — A feedback circuit that automatically adjusts amplifier gain.

AM (Amplitude Modulation) — A modulation technique where the carrier amplitude varies with the signal.

Amplifier — An active device that increases the power level of an RF signal.

Amplitude Ripple — The peak-to-peak variation in gain across a frequency band.

Antenna — A device that converts guided electromagnetic energy into free-space radiation.

Antenna Aperture — The effective area of an antenna that captures incident electromagnetic energy.

Antenna Array — Multiple antenna elements arranged to shape the radiation pattern.

Antenna Efficiency — The ratio of power radiated to total power delivered.

Antenna Factor (AF) — The ratio of electric field strength to antenna terminal voltage.

Antenna Gain — A measure of an antenna's ability to direct energy in a particular direction.

Antenna Pattern (Radiation Pattern) — A graphical representation of antenna radiation properties.

Anti-Cocking Flange — A waveguide flange design that prevents angular misalignment.

Aperture — The physical opening of an antenna for transmitting or receiving energy.

Attenuation — The reduction in signal power as it propagates through a medium.

Attenuation Constant (α) — The real part of the propagation constant.

Attenuator — A passive device that reduces signal power by a fixed or variable amount.

Axial Ratio (AR) — A measure of polarization purity for circularly polarized antennas.

Azimuth — The horizontal angular coordinate in a spherical coordinate system.

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