Electromagnetic Fields

Electromagnetic Fields (217 - 13840)
Study: Bachelor in Communication System Engineering
Semester 2/Spring Semester
2ND Year Course/Lower Division

Students are Expected to have completed:

Calculus I and Calculus II
Linear algebra
Physics

Compentences and Skills that will be Acquired and Learning Results:

Through this course, the student will learn basic knowledge about the fundamentals of the mechanism of radiation and propagation of electromagnetic waves both in free space as well as in a guided medium. Besides the most common procedures used in practice to apply the electromagnetic model will be introduced. In order to achieve this goal, the student will obtain a knowledge base and a set of skills.
In terms of knowledge, after this course the student will learn:

To understand the basis of the propagation of electromagnetic waves and to know the parameters that describe this propagation.
To know the global electromagnetic model including Maxwell equations and boundary conditions.
To understand the main role that the medium where electromagnetic waves propagate plays when analyzing this propagation. The student will learn how to characterize electromagnetically the different media.
To know plane waves as a good approximation for many realistic situations, their characteristics, and how they propagate when there are discontinuities. Special attention will be paid to polarization.
To know the fundamentals of propagation of electromagnetic waves by a physical support by means of waveguides, including transmission lines. In addition, the student will learn how to characterize and to analyze these devices.
To learn the fundamentals that determine the controlled radiation of the electromagnetic waves. This includes concepts related to antennas and the parameters that characterize them.
To understand the role of the different elements that in a radiolink to allow the radiolink evaluation.

In terms of the skills, we can classify them into specific skill and generic skills.

The specific skills include:

To understand the meaning of the different parameters which characterize the propagation of electromagnetic waves in homogeneous medium or by a physical support.
To interpret the polarization of a plane wave.
To classify the media as a function of their electromagnetic characteristics.
To analyze what happens when a travelling electromagnetic wave propagating in an homogeneous medium finds a different medium. To correctly interpret the associated phenomena of reflection and transmission, including the particular case of good conductors.
To analyze the characteristics of wave propagation in a waveguide, being able of calculation the waveguide cutoff frequency, attenuation, etc. Similarly, the student will be able of designing waveguides fulfilling required work specifications. This concerns both rectangular waveguides and transmission lines.
To understand the meaning of the parameters used to characterize an antenna. To be able of selecting according to these parameters (directivity, polarization, radiation pattern) the best antenna for a particular type of radio communication.
To evaluate radiolinks knowing the elements that intervienen en los mismos: transmitting and receiving antenna, distance

Description of Contents: Course Description

This is a basic course of applied electromagnetism whose purpose is to establish and analyze the basic concepts that constitute the core of the descriptive model of the electromagnetic radiation and propagation, both in free space and in a guided medium. Besides, the most usual concepts in practice to the application of the electromagnetic model will be introduced in the course.

The program is divided into four parts:

1. The electromagnetic model
2. Propagation in homogeneous medium: plane waves
3. Guided propagation
4. Radiation

Learning Activities and Methodology:
The following activities will be combined as described in the detailed program of the course:

1- Theory lectures in the blackboard and with slides. Resolution of small exercises
2- Problems
3- Labs (four labs in computer room)
4- Office hours
5- Proposed exercises with solutions will be published in each chapter for self-studying.

Assessment System:

Global exam at the end of the semester (60% of the final grade (6 points)).
The last 40% will be obtained by the continuous evaluation (4 points) which will consist of two tests with short questions and/or small problems.

Basic Bibliography:

C.A. Balanis. Advanced Engineering Electromagnetics. Wiley, 2012.
CHENG D. K.. Fundamentos de Electromagnetismo para Ingeniería. Addison Wesley.
D. Fleisch. A Student¿s Guide to Maxwell¿s Equations. Cambridge University Press. 2008
Luis E. García-Castillo. Electromagnetic Model: Maxwell's Equations. xxxx. 2013
RAMO, S., J. R. WHINNERY and T. VAN DUZER. Fields and Waves in Communication Electronics. John Wiley and Sons.