THE GRADUATE COURSE IN

ELECTROMAGNETICS: INTEGRATING
THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
David A. Rogers & Benjamin D. Braaten
Electrical and Computer Engineering
North Dakota State University
Fargo, ND
 First Graduate Course in
Electromagnetics
• 30-50 years ago – textbooks by Plonsey and
Collin and Collin
• Emphasized:
• Maxwell’s Equations
• Analytical Solutions: open- and closed structures
• Followed undergrad cousin with increased rigor
• Theoretical emphasis increased following
Sputnik
• Thorough vector calculus descriptions
 Typical outline 50 years ago
• Gauss’s flux and divergence theorems
• Poisson’s equation
• Three common coordinate systems
• Curvilinear coordinates
• Green’s identities
• Dirichlet and Neumann conditions
• Uniqueness Theorem
• In essence, quite theoretical/mathematical
 Early Textbook Details
• Plonsey, R. and Collin, R. E. (1961). Principles
and Applications of Electromagnetic Fields.
New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
• Collin, R. E. (2001). Foundations for
Microwave Engineering. New York, NY: IEEE
Press.
 Grad Course in Electromagnetics
20-30 years ago.
• Textbooks by Pozar, Balanis, Ishimaru
• Advanced electromagnetics
• Boundary value problems
• Reflection and transmission
• Microwave device design and analysis
• Microstrip design techniques
• Microwave filters
• Microwave networks
 20-30 years ago (continued)
• Waveguides using vector potential methods
• Magneto-ionic media
• Propagation in the neutral atmosphere
• Cavities
• Intermediate mathematics of electromagnetics
 Classical Textbook Details
• Balanis, C. A. (2012). Advanced Engineering
Electromagnetics. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
• Ishimaru, A. (1991). Electromagnetic Wave
Propagation, Radiation, and Scattering.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
• Pozar, D. M. (2005). Microwave Engineering.
Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
 A Contemporary Course
• Maxwell’s equations review
• Plane waves, lossy media, reflection and
transmission
• Transmission-line theory, losses, matching stubs
• Microstrip design
• Microstrip devices: couplers, splitters, matching
devices
• Metallic waveguides
• General solutions for guided-wave structures
• Human effects of electromagnetic waves/ethics
A Contemporary Course (Continued)
• Microwave network theory
• Antennas, gain, noise, and systems studies
• Radio propagation and scattering
• Magneto-ionic theory
• Fiber optics
• Matrix method in networks
• Project presentations
 Contemporary Textbook Details
• Pozar, D. M. (2012). Microwave Engineering.
Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
• 2012 edition is scheduled for release in
November 2011.
 What will our students need?
• Course should serve grad students specializing in
electromagnetics.
• Should attract non-specialists.
• Serve those working with high-speed or very
small devices—material science, nanoscale
science/engineering, certain areas of applied
physics, and specialists in optics.
 What do the students
bring to the course?
• An undergraduate electromagnetics course.
• Phasor analysis of AC circuits.
• Transmission line theory.
• Plane wave background.
• The usual physics and math common to
undergrad engineering and physics students.
Computer and laboratory work

• Early in the semester students begin a project,

groups of two or three students.
• Design a microwave device.
• Layout and simulate on the computer.
• Forward to ProtoMat S62 milling machine.
(www.lpkf.com )
• Measure using Agilent E5071C (4.5 GHz) network
analyzer.
• Compare to Advanced Design System (ADS) and
Matlab simulations.
• Present oral and written reports.
 Have we had an impact on the
students?
• Gets students involved in:
• Literature searches
• Reproducing published results
• New designs, new frequencies
• ADS layouts and simulations
• Testing
• In the course:
• Reduce routine homework in favor of the above.
• Require student bi-weekly written progress reports and
oral presentations.
• Final report to be ready for submission to a conference.
 Student Project Procedure:
Example: 90o Hybrid Coupler

• Design device based on Pozar or other

literature/research.
• Lay out and simulate device using ADS.
• Send gerber file to ProtoMat S62 PCB milling
machine.
• Add connectors and loads to the device.
• Determine the performance (scattering
parameters) using an Agilent E5071C spectrum
analyzer.
ADS Layout for 90o Hybrid Coupler
ProtoMat S62 PCB milling machine
http://sites.google.com/site/ndsuece/Home
Waiting for the Grad Assistant
90o Hybrid Coupler
Network Analyzer
Network Analyzer close-up
 dB

-40.00
-35.00
-30.00
-25.00
-20.00
-15.00
-10.00
-5.00
0.00
1.50
1.58
1.65
1.73
1.80
1.88
1.95
2.03
2.10
2.18
2.25
2.33
2.40
2.48
2.55
2.63
2.70
2.78
2.85
-21.43 2.93
3.00
GHz

-5.33

3.08
3.15

-28.92
-3.97

3.23
S Parameters

3.30
3.38
3.45
3.53
3.60
3.68
3.75
3.83
3.90
3.98
4.05
Design fo = 3Ghz

4.12
4.20
4.28
Test Results: 90o Hybrid Coupler

4.35
4.42
4.50
S14
S13
S12
S11
 More Student Project Results

• Power dividers
• “Rat race” coupler
• Quasi-Yagi antenna
• Quasi-Landstorfer antenna
• Bow-tie slot antenna
 Student Projects: Power Dividers

Power divider without resistor Power divider with resistor

-3.0 -12
-15 -3.5
-3.5
-18 -4.0
-4.0
-20
-4.5
-4.5

IS12I, IS21I) (dB)

-24
IS21I, IS12I (dB)

IS11I (dB)
IS11I (dB)

-5.0 -5.0
-25
-30 (1.549,-28.62)
-5.5 -5.5

-30 (1.53, -29.33) -6.0 -6.0

-36
S11-Measured
-6.5 S11-Simulated
(1.597,-44.206) -6.5
(1.486,-36.986) S11-simulation
-35 -42
S11-measured -7.0 -7.0
1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0
Frequency (GHz) Frequency (GHz)
Student Project: “Rat Race” Coupler
Student Project: Metamaterial-based
Quasi-Yagi Antenna
Student Project: A Quasi-Landstorfer
Antenna
Student Project: Bow-tie Slot Antenna
 Published/Accepted Results
J. Anderson, K. Johnson, C. Satterlee, A. Lynch and B. D. Braaten,
"A Reduced Frequency Printed Quasi-Yagi Antenna Symmetrically
Loaded with Meander Open Complementary Split Ring Resonator
(MOCSRR) Elements," Proceedings of the 2011 IEEE International
Symposium on Antennas and Propagation, Spokane, WA, July 2011.

M. A. Aziz, S. Roy and B. D. Braaten, "A New Printed Quasi-

Lanstorfer Antenna," Accepted for publication in the IEEE
Transactions on Antennas and Propagation.

L. A. Berge, M. Reich and B. D. Braaten, “A Compact Dual-Band

Pseudo-Vivaldi Bowtie Slot Antenna for 900 and 2400 MHz ISM
Bands,” Submitted for review in the IEEE Antennas and Wireless
Propagation Letters – Accepted and under revision.
 What are our plans for the
department?

• Recruit talented students to participate and be

student leaders.
• Integrate active research projects into teaching
(Dr. Braaten).
• Active interests: flexible antennas, printed
antennas, microwave devices.
• Leverage course activities to increase research in
department.
 Conclusions
• The course has been an excellent research
initiation experience for our students.
• It has drawn students and faculty together in
ways that a straight lecture course couldn’t.
• It has been the first step towards several M.S.
degrees and a few Ph.D. degrees.
 Acknowledgement
• Dr. Robert M. Nelson
of UW-Stout made
major contributions
to the Emag program
at NDSU, 1989-2008.
He continues to be an
inspiration for our
work.
 Questions?

Thank you for listening!