Course syllabus for High frequency electromagnetic waves

Course syllabus adopted 2024-02-02 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameHögfrekvensteknik
  • CodeEEM021
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerTKELT
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyElectrical Engineering
  • DepartmentSPACE, EARTH AND ENVIRONMENT
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 50125
  • Block schedule
  • Open for exchange studentsNo

Credit distribution

0107 Examination 6 c
Grading: TH		0 c6 c0 c0 c0 c0 c
  • 18 Jan 2025 am J
  • 16 Apr 2025 am J
  • 19 Aug 2025 am J
0207 Laboratory 1.5 c
Grading: UG		0 c1.5 c0 c0 c0 c0 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

The same as for the programme that owns the course.
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

Basic knowledge of electromagnetic field theory, such as EEM015 Electromagnetic fields.

Aim

The aim of this course is to give a basic description and understanding of high frequency electromagnetic wave phenomena as they occur in modern applications as e g fibre optics, laser and microwave techniques and microelectronics. The students will learn to apply Maxwell's electromagnetic theory to solve electromagnetic problems which are closely connected to applications and research within this area and will get a broad theoretical understanding which they can later apply to specific applications (e.g. in photonics, microwave engineering etc).

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  • Describe different types of transmission lines and their characteristic parameters, understand wave propagation on transmission lines, and be able to use the Smith chart to solve problems concerning transmission lines.
  • Describe the electromagnetic fields in a waveguide and a cavity resonator, and use that to calculate power flow and attenuation.
  • Describe different microwave devices (especially high frequency transistors), determine the length and termination of a waveguide from reflected wave measurements, measure two port scattering parameters with a network analyzer and design a microwave power amplifier.
  • Understand the building blocks in optical fiber communication systems, together with system limitations coming from dispersion and attenuation.
  • Derive radiation from a given current distribution, be able to define and use basic antenna concepts, be able to understand and use the radar equation.

Content

  1. Transmission lines. Different types of transmission lines and their characteristic parameters; Wave propagation on transmission lines. Stationary and transient situations. The Smith chart. Impedance matching.
  2. Waveguides. Properties of TEM, TE and TM modes in waveguides. Electromagnetic fields in waveguides. Power flow and attenuation in waveguides. Resonant cavities: stored energy, attenuation, Q-factor and resonance frequency.
  3. Microwave electronics. Two port analysis, stability, noise, microwave devices (especially high frequency transistors). Measurement of twoport scattering parameters with a network analyzer. Design of a microwave power amplifier from the Smith chart and measured scattering parameters.
  4. Optical fiber communications system components. Transmitters, fibers, amplifiers, receivers. Transmission effects: dispersive pulse broadening and intersymbolinterference, attenuation, gain, noise, signal-to-noise ratio, bit error rate.
  5. Antennas. Radiation from a given current distribution. Basic antenna concepts: radiation intensity, directivity, directive gain, power gain, radiation efficiency, radiation resistance, effective area, beamwidth and main lobe. Radiation from a thin linear antenna with a given current distribution, radiation from uniform and binomial antenna arrays. Radiation diagram. Radar equation and Friis transmission formula.

Organisation

Lectures: ~18, Exercises sessions: ~11, Laboratory experiments: 3

Literature

D.K. Cheng: Field and Wave Electromagnetics, Addison-Wesley, chap 9-11 or D.K. Cheng: Fundamentals of Engineering Electromagnetics, Addison-Wesley chap 8-10; T. Fülöp: Kompendium i Högfrekvensteknik; J. Stake, M. Ingvarson and H. Hjelmgren: "Mikrovågselektronik".

Examination including compulsory elements

To complete the course the following points are mandatory:
  1. passing of written exam (max 60 points): at least 24 points for grade 3, at least 36 points for grade 4, 48 points or higher for grade 5. It should be at least 30% of all points given for 4 different parts of the exam;
  2.  all labs are approved;
  3. presence during the study visit and the guest lectures.
The final grade for the course will be the same as the one for the exam.


The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.