Course syllabus

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MCC121 Microwave engineering lp2 HT22 (7.5 hp)

The course is offered by the department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience

Contact details

The following team of teachers are involved in the course:

  • Jan Stake (examiner&lecturer), Terahertz and Millimetre Wave Lab, Room D615, MC2-building;
  • Helena Rodilla (lecturer), Terahertz and Millimetre Wave Lab, Room D610, MC2-building;
  • Peter Sobis (guest lecturer), Low noise factory and adjunct professor at Chalmers, Room D614, MC2-building.
  • Vincent Desmaris (lecturer), GARD, MC2-building;
  • Divya Jayasankar (TA), Terahertz and Millimetre Wave Lab, Room D616, MC2-building;
  • Yin Zeng (TA), Terahertz and Millimetre Wave Lab, Room D616, MC2-building;
  • Mohamed Aniss Mebarki (lab), GARD, MC2-building;

Course purpose

This course aims to provide the foundation for microwave theory and techniques. Participants will learn to analyse devices, circuits and structures that interact with electromagnetic fields and dimensions comparable to a wavelength or when wave propagation effects must be considered. Finally, the participants will learn to design a primary passive microwave circuit using modern CAD tools and experimentally verify the design with modern microwave vector network analysers.

Schedule

TimeEdit (Links to an external site.)

Course literature

David M. Pozar: Microwave engineering: 4th ed, Wiley, (ISBN13: 9780470631553).
Scientific and technical papers.

Additional/optional reading: Foundations for microwave engineering, by Robert E. Collin.

Course design

The course is organised around lectures, tutorials, experimental work, mock exams and home assignments as follows:

  • Lectures 28 hours (Jan Stake, Helena Rodilla, Vincent Desmaris, Peter Sobis);
  • Tutorials 28 hours (Divya, Yin);
  • Voluntary home assignments: 1-2 problems per week. These extra problems will allow you to receive feedback on your learning progress ();
  • Voluntary mock exams: 2. The idea is to be exposed to realistic examination problems, at an early stage of the course (Juan);
  • Laboratory work: 1) design of a microwave coupler, 2) characterization of your coupler design and 3) computer 3D EM simulation lab. The purpose is to become familiar with typical high-frequency CAD tools and to gain practical microwave measurement experience. (Anis Moradi);
  • Visit a local microwave company and guest lecture. The purpose is to see microwave engineering in practice (Peter Sobis); 
  • Written exam. The final exam, which consists of six problems,  is aligned with the learning objectives of the course.  

The best way to reach the learning objectives of this course is to solve a lot of problems and discuss & reflect with your peers and teachers. Don't hesitate to drop by and ask questions.

We use Canvas as a platform for communicating and providing material for the course.

The design of the branch line coupler (lab 1) will be carried out using a CAD tool called ADS, and will take place in the computer room: MT14, M-building. The final design will be fabricated and then tested (lab 2) in measurement lab: B518, MC2-building.

The 3D EM simulation lab (no 3) is based on Ansys HFSS. One can search which computer rooms at Chalmers have the software by clicking here (Links to an external site.) and searching for any "Ansys". Or, it can be installed on your own computer.  An overview and demonstration of the HFSS tool are scheduled.

Changes made since the last occasion

NA.

Learning objectives and syllabus

Learning objectives:

  1. Analyse wave propagating properties of guided wave structures (TE, TM, TEM waves): coaxial line, microstrip, stripline, rectangular and circular waveguides and coupled lines
  2. Apply N-port representations for analysing microwave circuits
  3. Apply the Smith chart to evaluate microwave networks
  4. Design and assess impedance-matching networks
  5. Design, evaluate and characterise directional couplers and power dividers
  6. Design and analyse attenuators, phase shifters and resonators
  7. Explain the basic properties of ferrite devices (circulators, isolators)

Link to the syllabus on Studieportalen.

Study plan (Links to an external site.)

Examination form

Successful completion of this course is based on:

  • Passed written examination (open book), scheduled for January 9, 2023. On the exam, it is allowed to have: the book by Pozar, and Chalmers approved calculator;
  • Completion of three lab exercises (Lab 1-2 according to schedule; Lab 3 (3D lab) report deadline is Friday, December 16th.

Course summary:

Date Details Due