High Frequency Techniques: An Introduction to RF and Microwave Design and Computer Simulation

This textbook is an introduction to microwave engineering. The scope of this book extends from topics for a first course in electrical engineering, in which impedances are analyzed using complex numbers, through the introduction of transmission lines that are analyzed using the Smith Chart, and on to graduate level subjects, such as equivalent circuits for obstacles in hollow waveguides, analyzed using Green’s Functions. This book is a virtual encyclopedia of circuit design methods.

Despite the complexity, topics are presented in a conversational manner for ease of comprehension. The book is not only an excellent text at the undergraduate and graduate levels, but is as well a detailed reference for the practicing engineer.

Consider how well informed an engineer will be who has become familiar with these topics as treated in High Frequency Techniques: (in order of presentation)

            Brief history of wireless (radio) and the Morse code

            U.S. Radio Frequency Allocations

            Introduction to vectors

            AC analysis and why complex numbers and impedance are used

            Circuit and antenna reciprocity

            Decibel measure

            Maximum power transfer

            Skin effect

            Computer simulation and optimization of networks

            LC matching of one impedance to another

            Coupled Resonators

            Uniform transmission lines for propagation

            VSWR, return Loss and mismatch error

            The Telegrapher Equations (derived)

            Phase and Group Velocities

            The Impedance Transformation Equation for lines (derived)

            Fano’s and Bode’s matching limits

            The Smith Chart (derived)

            Slotted Line impedance measurement

            Constant Q circles on the Smith Chart

            Approximating a transmission line with lumped L’s and C’s

            ABCD, Z, Y and Scattering matrix analysis methods for circuits

            Statistical Design and Yield Analysis of products

            Electromagnetic Fields

            Gauss’s Law

            Vector Dot Product, Divergence and Curl

            Static Potential and Gradient

            Ampere’s Law and Vector Curl

            Maxwell’s Equations and their visualization

            The Laplacian

            Rectangular, cylindrical and spherical coordinates

            Skin Effect

            The Wave Equation

            The Helmholtz Equations

            Plane Propagating Waves

            Rayleigh Fading

            Circular (elliptic) Polarization

            Poynting’s Theorem

            EM fields on Transmission Lines

            Calculating the impedance of coaxial lines

            Calculating and visualizing the fields in waveguides

            Propagation constants and waveguide modes

            The Taylor Series Expansion

            Fourier Series and Green’s Functions

            Higher order modes and how to suppress them

            Vector Potential and Retarded Potentials

            Wire and aperture antennas

            Radio propagation and path loss

            Electromagnetic computer simulation of structures

            Directional couplers

            The Rat Race Hybrid

            Even and Odd Mode Analysis applied to the backward wave coupler

            Network analyzer impedance and transmission measurements

            Two-port Scattering Parameters (s matrix)

            The Hybrid Ring coupler

            The Wilkinson power divider

            Filter design: Butterworth, Maximally flat & Tchebyscheff responses

            Filter Q

            Diplexer, Bandpass and Elliptic filters

            Richard’s Transformation & Kuroda’s Identities

Mumford’s transmission line stub filters

            Transistor Amplifier Design: gain, biasing, stability, and conjugate matching

            Noise in systems, noise figure of an amplifier cascade

            Amplifier non-linearity, and spurious free dynamic range

            Statistical Design and Yield Analysis