Electromagnetics and Transmission Lines

Catalog description

The concepts and theory of electromagnetic fields are addressed initially in this upper-division course to establish the foundation for electromagnetic applications in electrical engineering. Initial topics include non-Cartesian vectors and a brief review of Coulomb’s law. Then Biot-Savart law, Gauss’s law, electric potential, capacitance, Ampere’s Circuital law, inductance, Faraday’s law, displacement current, and Maxwell’s equations are covered. The theory and practice of signal transmission lines (T‑lines) and electromagnetic waves are addressed next along with electrical engineering applications. DC transient and AC sinusoidal steady-state propagation of waves on T-lines are developed from a circuit viewpoint. The Smith Chart is utilized to graphically display and interpret T-line and measurement results. Scattering parameters are used to express specifications and measurements of high-frequency components. T-line concepts are then extended to electromagnetic plane waves. Antennas and propagation are examined from a wireless communication link viewpoint. Electromagnetic interference and signal integrity concepts are introduced. High frequency measurement techniques, components, specifications, and instrumentation are examined in the laboratory sessions.