Course syllabus

Course-PM

MCC121 Microwave engineering lp2 HT24 (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), jan.stake@chalmers.se, Terahertz and Millimetre Wave Lab, Room D615a, MC2-building;
• Helena Rodilla (lecturer), rodilla@chalmers.se, Terahertz and Millimetre Wave Lab, Room D615, MC2-building;
• Jeffrey Hesler (guest lecturer), hesler@chalmers.se, Virginia Diodes, Inc. and adjunct professor at Chalmers, Room D617, MC2-building.
• Vincent Desmaris (lecturer), vincent.desmaris@chalmers.se, GARD, MC2-building;
• Patrik Blomberg (TA), patblo@chalmers.se, Terahertz and Millimetre Wave Lab, Room D620, MC2-building;
• Malte Dornieden (TA), maltedo@chalmers.se, Terahertz and Millimetre Wave Lab, Room D620, MC2-building;
• Francesco Fortunato  (TA), frafor@chalmers.se, Terahertz and Millimetre Wave Lab, Room D614, MC2-building;
• Zhiyi Liu( TA),  zhiyi.liu@chalmers.se, Microwave Electronics Lab, Room ?, 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, Jeffrey Hesler);
• Tutorials 30 hours (Patrik, Malte);
• Voluntary home assignments: 1-2 problems per week. These extra problems will allow you to receive feedback on your learning progress (Malte);
• Voluntary mock exams: 1. The idea is to be exposed to realistic examination problems at an early stage of the course (Patrik);
• 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. (Zhiyi);
• Visit a local microwave company and guest lecture. The purpose is to see microwave engineering in practice (tbd); 
• Written exam. The final exam, which consists of six problems, aligns with the course's learning objectives.  

The best way to reach the learning objectives of this course is to solve many problems and discuss and 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 in the computer room MT14, M-building. The final design will be fabricated and then tested (lab 2) in the 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)

Examination form

Successful completion of this course is based on:

• Passed written examination (open book), scheduled for January 13, 2025. 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 13th.