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EO3602 Electromagnetic Waves, Transmission Lines, and Antennas

This course covers elements of electromagnetic field theory as applied to transmission lines, propagating waves, and antenna radiation. The objective of the course is to provide a foundation for the subsequent study of antennas, devices, and propagation environment on the design and performance of communications, radar and electronic warfare systems. Labs provide practical experience with commercial simulation software, microwave instruments, components, and measurement techniques. This course is intended for students not in the 590 curriculum.

Prerequisite

MA1116 and PH1322

Lecture Hours

4

Lab Hours

2

Course Learning Outcomes

  • Students must compute the voltage and current for waves on a transmission line, and determine equivalent circuit parameters, loss, and phase velocity for waves on the line.
  • Students must determine the input impedance of a terminated finite transmission line, and the VSWR.
  • Students must use the formulas for plane wave propagation in unbounded media to determine the effect of losses, wave polarization, and the reflection and transmission from boundaries.
  • The student must calculate antenna parameters such as half-power beamwidth, gain, directivity, polarization, bandwidth, and input impedance for wire antennas.
  • Students must be able to make basic tradeoffs in the antenna types used in systems, and include the effect of the local environment on the radiation pattern and input impedance in their calculations.
  • Students will be able to calculate the polarization mismatch loss between antennas, and the effective area of receiving antennas.
  • The student will be able to use design curves to estimate the mutual coupling between antennas.
  • For an aperture antenna, the student will be able to calculate its far field radiation pattern from the field distributions in the aperture.
  • The student must apply the principle of pattern multiplication for arrays and compute the array factor of linear and planar arrays with periodic element locations. 
  • The student will be able to calculate the effect of aperture amplitude tapering on the far field sidelobe level and beamwidth.
  • The student will be able to compute the phase shift necessary to scan an array beam to a specified direction, and determine whether grating lobes will occur.