Telecommunication Engineering

PAOLO BURGHIGNOLI
PAOLO BURGHIGNOLI
ALESSANDRO GALLI
ALESSANDRO GALLI

GENERAL
Knowledge of some advanced topics in the area of antenna engineering, including both analytical and numerical techniques as well as in-depth analyses of specific classes of radiators.
SPECIFIC
• Knowledge and understanding: knowing electromagnetic principles and techniques for the study of modern antenna systems, advanced array theory, periodic electromagnetic structures, MIMO systems for wireless applications, resonant antennas (patch antennas and dielectric-resonator antennas), leaky-wave antennas (mono- and bi-dimensional), numerical methods (moment method), and selected electromagnetic CAD software.
• Applying knowledge and understanding: being able to apply equivalent-network techniques for the analysis of open radiating structures, both uniform and periodic; being able to design printed patch antennas with canonical shape and mono- and bi-dimensional leaky-wave antennas.
• Making judgements: (none)
• Communication skills: being able to describe the analytical and numerical techniques as well as the design principles of the antennas and antenna arrays described in the course.
• Learning skills: being able to pursue further in-depth studies, both aimed at the Master’s thesis and during post-graduation work (either academic or in a company), on topics relevant to analysis and design of antennas.

Knowing and understanding the elementary theory of antenna arrays and fundamentals on mutual coupling, MIMO systems, one- and two-dimensional leaky-wave antennas, microstrip antennas, periodic-structure theory and modeling via equivalent networks, fundamentals of the method of moments in electromagnetics.

Knowledge of basic notions of applied electromagnetics (fundamental electromagnetic equations and theorems, plane waves in free space, reflection and refraction of plane waves from planar boundaries, transmission-line formalism, guided-wave propagation, Green’s functions) and of antennas (fundamental antenna parameters, radiation integrals, elementary array theory).

I. Introduction to the Course and Review of EM Fundamentals for Antennas (Slides of the lessons 1-3) (Weeks I, II)

II. EM Principles and Methods for Antenna Problems (Slides of the lessons 4-6) (Week III)

III. Arrays, Smart Antennas, MIMO systems (Slides of the lessons 7-8) (Week IV)

IV. Radiating Periodic Structures (Slides of the lessons 9-10) (Week V)

V. Printed and Dielectric-type Antennas (Slides of the lessons 11-12) (Weeks VI, VII)

VI. Traveling-Wave and Leaky-Wave Antennas (Slides of the lessons 13-14) (Weeks VII, VIII)

VII. Planar Antennas and Numerical Methods (Slides of the lessons 15-17) (Week IX)

VIII. Method of Moments for Antennas and Electromagnetic CAD (Slides of the lessons 18-20) (Week X)

IX. Sundry Frontier Topics (Slides of the lessons 21-24) (Settimane XI, XII)

Slides of the lessons in pdf, available for download from the teachers' websites (http://paoloburghignoli.site.uniroma1.it/, http://alessandrogalli.site.uniroma1.it/), including extensive bibliographic references.

See the slides of the lessons.

Classroom teaching

Attendance is not compulsory (but it is recommended).

Single oral examination (open question/open answer) at the end of the course, with two questions aimed at assessing the student's knowledge and critical understanding of the course contents. Each question determines one half of the final grade.

Fundamental em theorems for antennas.
Wireless channel modeling.
Diversity and MIMO systems.
Periodic structures: general features, Floquet theorem, space harmonics, Brillouin diagram.
Periodic structures: Bloch analysis via LEN.
Periodic structures: Bloch analysis via TEN.
Microstrip patch antennas.
Dielectric resonator antennas.
Leaky-wave antennas.
Fabry-Perot Cavity antennas.
Method of Moments: general formulation, choice of the basis functions.
Method of Moments for PEC objects in free space.
Mixed-Potential EFIE for printed structures in multilayer media.

• Introduction to the Course and Review of EM Fundamentals
  • Books: Slides 1-2


• Formalization of EM radiation problems
  • Books: Slides 3-4


• Antenna Parameterization
  • Books: Slides 5-6


• Arrays, Smart Antennas & MIMO Systems
  • Books: Slides 7-8


• Radiating Periodic Structures
  • Books: Slides 9-10


• Resonant Antennas Based on Patches and Dielectric Resonators
  • Books: Slides 11-12


• Leakage from Open Structures and Leaky-Wave Antennas
  • Books: Slides 13-14


• Planar Leaky-Wave Structures
  • Books: Slides 15-16


• Computational Electromagnetics
  • Books: Slides 17-18


• Numerical Formulations for Antennas
  • Books: Slides 19-20


• Seminars
  • Books: Slides provided by the Seminars' Speakers