Physics 2

A major part of the course deals with the Maxwellian theory of electromagnetic fields and waves, which lie at the heart of telecommunications. The lectures start from physical interpretations of the Maxwell equations. Then the phenomenon of electromagnetic waves is discussed in various environments, including infinite space, layer media, and popular waveguiding structures. All theoretical models are illustrated with animated computer simulations using renown electromagnetic software. Finally, the acoustic wave equation is considered and properties of the acoustic and electromagnetic waves are compared. Practical applications of the electromagnetic and acoustic waves in electronics and telecommunications are addressed. The considered subjects include transverse electromagnetic (TEM) and quasi-TEM transmission lines used in IT, cylindrical waveguide devices for radar applications, photonic crystals and fibers, and antennas for satellite communications.

Lecture contents

• Maxwell equations (2h): their history (when did Maxwell live and what was his name?..); differential and integral forms; real and
  complex notation; physical interpretations.


• Environments of wave propagation (2h): media classification
  and constitutive relations; the hot topics of double-negative
  materials, a perfect planar lens, and perfect cladding (live computer
  simulations 0.5h).


• Plane waves in infinite space (3h): wave equation; plane waves in
  lossless and lossy media; transverse electromagnetic (TEM) waves; wave
  impedance, medium intrinsic impedance, wavelength, attenuation, skin
  effect (live computer simulations 1h).


• Plane waves in layered media (3h): boundary conditions;
  reflection of waves upon normal incidence; reflection coefficient,
  transmission coefficient, standing wave ratio; half- and quater-wave
  transformers - a transparent material plate; how do we shield devices
  at RF and microwave frequencies (live computer simulations 1h).


• Electromagnetic energy and power flow (2h): definitions of energy
  density, dissipated power density, power flux; Poynting theorem and its
  implications.


• Waves in TEM transmission lines (4h): properties of waves in
  generic TEM lines (coax, parallel plate) and practical quasi-TEM lines
  (inhomogeneous coax, microstrip, coplanar waveguide); circuit
  parameters of TEM lines (live computer simulations 1h).


• Introduction to computational electromagnetics (2h): why do
  analytical methods fail for practical devices - remarks on conformal
  mapping and separation of variables; FD algorithms for Laplace equation
  in TEM lines; FDTD algorithms for waves propagating in transmission
  lines (live computer simulations 1h).


• Waves in cylindrical hollow waveguides (3h): TE and TM modes in
  rectangular and circular waveguides; cut-off frequencies, dispersion
  characteristics, propagating and evanescent waves; modal field patterns
  (live computer simulations 1h).


• Waves in cavity resonators (1h): resona?tors constructed as
  waveguide sections, eigenmodes, resonant and eigenfrequencies,
  Q-factors; why do we need resonators?; is my domestic microwave oven a
  resonator? (live computer simulations 0.3h)


• Waves in dielectric waveguides (4h): oblique incidence and the
  effect of total reflection; modes in cladded core optical fibres;
  photonic crystals and PBG phenomenon; microstructured photonic
  fibers (live computer simulations 1h).


• Acoustic waves (2h): wave equation for acoustic pressure,
  physical interpretations; basic solutions - the concept of longitudinal
  waves; soft and hard boundaries, a quest for their analogues in
  electromagnetics.


• Waves radiated by antennas (2h): potentials and Green function;
  Hertz dipole; Huygens principle; near and far fields; radiation
  patterns, gain, radiation resistance, matching; scattering of
  electromagnetic and sound waves; when I speak on my mobile - is this
  the antenna or myself that radiate? (live computer simulations 0.5h).

• Differential operators in field theory (2h): curl, divergence,
  gradient; Gauss and Stokes theorem; identities of vector algebra; angle
  between field vectors in various media.


• Plane waves in lossless space (2h): mathematical expressions for
  E- and H-fields; linear, circular, and elliptical polarization; time-
  and space-envelopes of power and energy.


• Plane waves in lossy space (2h): mathematical expressions for E-
  and H-fields; shape of their envelopes; validating Poynting theorem.


• Plane waves in layered media (2h): wave incidence onto a
  dielectric half-space; designing a quarter-wave transformer.


• Waves in TEM transmission lines (2h): unit parameters of TEM and
  parallel-plate lines;


• Waves in cylindrical hollow waveguides (2h): drawing modal field
  patterns in waveguide cross-section; comparison of wavelength and wave
  impedance with TEM lines.


• Waves in cavity resonators (2h): calculating resonant frequencies
  and modal field patterns in sections of coax and rectangular waveguide.


• Waves radiated by antennas (1h): a simple array of two Hertzian
  dipoles.

• TEM waves in lossless (2h) and lossy (2h) media: virtual
  measurements of wavelength, wave impedance, attenuation; understanding
  hill-top and thermal field displays;


• normal incidence of TEM waves onto PEC and PMC walls:
  understanding of reflected waves transient phenomena, steady-state
  virtual measurements of reflection coefficient, standing wave
  ratio, and phase-shift between E- and H- fields (2h);


• normal incidence of TEM waves onto dielectric half-space and
  layered media: single and multiple reflections in transient state,
  steady-state virtual measurements of standing wave ratio, verification
  of half-wave and quarter-wave transformer concepts (2h);


• modes in transmission lines: TEM lines (2h), rectangular
  waveguide (2h), dielectric guide (1h);


• fields radiated by simple antennas: matching, radiation patterns,
  gain (2h).

During the 6 lab exercises it is possible to score up to 30 points:

• 12 points for entry tests (6*2)


• 18 points for exercise execution (6*3)

• A: 91-110 points


• B+: 81-90 points


• B: 71-80 points


• C+: 61-70 points


• C: 51-60 points


• D: 0 -50 points