This course introduces electromagnetic wave propagation concepts imperative for the understanding of communication systems. Electromagnetic concepts are essential for understanding the behaviour of devices and systems that we encounter every day. The internal workings of modern computing devices, mobile phones and tablets, wired and wireless internet, and even polarised sunglasses are all reliant on electromagnetic design principles.
The course develops your understanding of signal transmission in a number of different communication media: primarily in free space (air) and waveguides (e.g. coaxial cables, metal tubes or printed circuit tracks). Radiation from antennas is also introduced, to describe how electronic signals can escape from circuits into the air.
Topics studied in this course include the following areas of Electromagnetic Wave Principles and Applications:
- Review of electromagnetic fundamentals.
- Electromagnetic wave equations.
- Electrodynamics
- Uniform plane waves.
- Power flow in waves.
- Conductor loss and skin depth.
- Aspects of transmission, reflection refraction and diffraction.
- Modes and transmission in metallic waveguides.
- Radiation and fundamentals of antennas.
- Friis transmission formula.