11956 - Aerials

Learning outcomes

The course leads to the acquisition of a good theoretical and practical knowledge of  typical antenna systems (dipoles, arrays, aperture antennas, etc) and phenomena related to the transmission and reception of radio signal. The students should be able to analyze and design a radio link and should have the fundamentals to understand and operate on complex systems such as wireless and cellular radio systems, broadcasting networks etc

Course contents

1 Theory
1a) Symmetrical Maxwell's equations.
1b) Recall of the resolution of Maxwell equation: the radiation vector of an antenna. Far field conditions.
1c) Polarization of  monochromatic fileds, polarization vector, angular gain function and other peculiar parameters for the characterization of an antenna (efficiency, directivity, etc)

2. Radiation functions
2a) Main antenna radiation functions (efficiency, directivity, gain, etc); equivalent circuits of an emitting and of a receiving antenna. The received power.
2b) Generalized Friis equation. Problems.
2c) Image, equivalence and reciprocity theorems
 
3. Wire Antennas
3a) Linear Dipole;

3b) Wideband dipoles

3c) Loop antenna and antenna long-wire

4 Antenna Array
4a) Introduction to Array;

4b) Array characterization

4c) Linear Unifor Array

4d) Parasitic Antenna: Yagi-Uda Array

4e) Log-periodic Array

4f) Planar Array

5. Aperture Antenna

5a) Mathematical Aperture: Indeal and non ideal (aperture efficiency);

5b) Real Aperture Antenna: waveguide antennas, horn, reflectors, patch antenna

6 Exercices

Readings/Bibliography

- Duplicated lecture notes

- G. Conciauro - Introduzione alle onde elettromagnetiche, Mc. Graw Hill

- V. Rizzoli, D. MAsotti - Lezioni di Sistemi di Antenna, Progetto Leonardo

- C. Balanis - Antenna Theory, Wiley & Sons

- W. Stutzman - Antenna Theory and design, Wiley & Sons

Teaching methods

Teaching appointments. Some practical lessons with computer simulators.

Assessment methods

Students are requested to take an overall written test and the final oral exam at the end of the course. The overall written test, oral test and evaluation mark registration take place either at the end of the course (first exam date) or on an official examination date (OED), approximately 6 times a year.  The final mark is the synthetic evaluation of both written and oral tests.  If written test average mark is insufficient (below 18 out of 30) the candidate must skip the oral exam and take the written test again on a successive OED.
Possible exceptions to the above mentioned rules will be considered and discussed case by case.

Teaching tools

Blackboard. PC. Projector.
CST software simulator.

Links to further information

http://www.elettra2000.it/vdegliesposti/

Office hours

See the website of Franco Fuschini