The calendar below provides information on the course’s lecture (L) and recitation (R) sessions.
UPW = uniform plane wave
TE = transverse electric
TM = transverse magnetic
TEM = transverse electromagnetic
VSWR = voltage standing wave ratio
| SES # | TOPICS | DEMOS | KEY DATES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundations | |||
| L1 | Foundations, forces and fields, Gauss’s and Ampere’s laws (∫) for static fields | Balloons | Problem set 1 out |
| R1 | Vectors, •, ×, static field integral-solution examples: find E(r) for sphere, cylinder; Φ(r); H(r) for wire | ||
| L2 | Media, boundary conditions | Boomer | |
| R2 | Resistors, capacitors, devices as circuits, E relaxation τ = RC = ε/σ; if time, coaxial R | ||
| L3 | Review vector operators; Maxwell’s differential equations (t), E, H, uniform plane wave; sin (ωt) | UPW movie | Problem set 2 out |
| R3 | Complex Maxwell’s equation, sinusoidal UPW, wave polarization | Slinky | |
| L4 | Poynting theorem derivation (time), UPW example (we, wm, S(t)) | Helmholtz | |
| R4 | Inductors, solenoidal; τ = L/R; vector operators; planar, cylindrical, spherical examples | ||
| R5 | Show we = CV2/2, wm = LI2/2; toroidal inductors, inductors with gaps, transformers | Problem set 3 out | |
| Forces, motors, generators, and MEMS | |||
| L5 | Electric forces on e-beams, C plates, force from ∂w/∂z; generators and sensors | ||
| R6 | Magnetic forces: electron optics, motors and generators | ||
| L6 | Magnetic pressure, rotary wire and reluctance motors, forces on materials | Motor | Problem set 4 out |
| R7 | Wave forces; E and H field relaxation; examples from L5-R7 | ||
| L7 | Static Φ and fields, Laplace’s equation, separation of variables (x,y,z); inhomogeneous materials | Scooter | |
| R8 | Review: complex differential Maxwell’s equations (ω); UPW, polarization | ||
| Waves in media and at boundaries | |||
| L8 | Electromagnetic fields in media, uniaxial media, quarter-wave plate | Stressed media | Problem set 5 out |
| R9 | Lossy media, skin depth, plasmas; fields, power, and energy | Wave movie | |
| L9 | Boundary conditions, k•r, phase matching, non-uniform plane wave, Snell’s law | Prism | |
| R10 | Review for quiz 1 | ||
| Quiz 1 | |||
| R11 | Boundary conditions, σ = ∞, perpendicular reflection from ε and σ = ∞; examples at angles | ||
| L10 | TE at planar boundary, TM by duality, Brewster’s angle | Brewster’s angle | |
| R12 | Derive vp, vg for 2 sines, plasma example, power and energy examples | Dispersion video | |
| Limits to computation speed | |||
| L11 | Device and line delays; TEM parallel-plate line, telegraphers’ equation, Zo | Fluorescent | Problem set 6 out |
| R13 | TEM transients, graphical solution | ||
| L12 | Transients: Thevenin equivalents; L, C, diode loads; initial conditions; lossy TEM | Transient movies | |
| R14 | Examples of transients: loads, initial conditions, analytic expressions | ||
| RF/microwave guidance and filtering | |||
| L13 | Architecture, generalized TEM line, Ζ(z), Γ(z), Ζ transformations | VSWR, slotted | Problem set 7 out |
| R15 | Gamma plane, Smith chart, VSWR | ||
| L14 | RLC resonators, series, parallel, ωo, ∆ω, α, QL, QI, QE, coupling | ||
| R16 | Smith chart, single-stub tuning, Yn(z), λ/4 transformer | ||
| L15 | TEM resonators, we(t), wm(t), Q, ∆ω, examples; |V(z,f)| | Coupled resonator video | Problem set 8 out |
| R17 | TE, TM parallel plate waveguide, kx, ky, E, H, vg, vp, cutoff, evanescence; waveguide movies | ||
| L16 | TEmn rectangular waveguide, cavity resonators, perturbations | Cavity resonator perturbation | |
| R18 | TM waveguides, field sketches, Poynting vector; examples from L16 | ||
| Wireless communications | |||
| L17 | Conservation of energy, power, G(θ,φ), Ae= Gλ2/4π, Rr, VTh, RF links | Problem set 9 out | |
| R19 | Review for quiz 2 | ||
| Quiz 2 | |||
| R20 | RF link examples, bit rates, radar applications | ||
| R21 | Radiation by charges ρ, current J; Φ and Ā; static, dynamic (t) | Problem set 10 out | |
| L18 | Radiation by current elements, Hertzian dipole, near and far fields; Biot-Savart | Dipole video | |
| R22 | Wire antennas, wire arrays | ||
| L19 | Receiving antennas: VTh in dipoles and loops; d<<λ/2π, G = 4πA/λ2 | Yagi antenna | Problem set 11 out |
| R23 | Mirrors, 2-dipole arrays with mirrors, ground reflections, propagation, thermal noise | ||
| L20 | Aperture antennas, diffraction | Laser diffraction | |
| R24 | Link and antenna examples, phasor addition, radio astronomy, remote sensing | ||
| Optical communications | |||
| L21 | Optical fibers, applications, dielectric slab waveguide, fiber design | μW fiber | Problem set 12 out |
| R25 | Waveguide dispersion (vg and vp in fiber waveguides), optical link examples | ||
| L22 | Lasers | Simulated 3-level laser | |
| R26 | Optical resonators, filters, multiplexers, interferometer/modulators, detectors | ||
| Acoustics | |||
| L23 | Acoustic waves, boundary conditions, reflections, antennas | p, u(x,z,t) movie; keys | |
| R27 | Acoustic waveguides and resonators, resonator coupling | ||
| L24 | Course philosophy, resonator perturbations and speech generation | Acoustic resonator | |
