Course information 1

MICROWAVE AND OPTICAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS 4

Course code 6DGX

GU Credits 20
ECTS Credits 10
Prerequisite course(s) Electromagnetic Compatibility 3 (3KYW)
Teaching staff (the first has Dr E Wasige (telephone 2091, email E.Wasige)
overall responsibility) Dr A Kelly
Approximate size of class 20
Semester 2

Description of course

1. Microwave Transmission Systems

16 lectures and 4 tutorials
Aims
To introduce microwave transmission systems from fundamental electromagnetics to integrated
systems approaches.
Objectives
Understanding
Fundamental concepts of electromagnetic waves, how properties of waves are used in
communications engineering, system concepts and realisations.
Knowledge
Properties of EM waves in free space, guided-waves for RF transmission, channel hierarchies
in microwave transmission systems.
Skill
Design and analysis of microwave systems.
Syllabus
Maxwell’s equations in free space. Wave equation. Plane wave in three dimensions. Wave
impedance concepts. Polarisation. Reflection and transmission of plane waves.
Electromagnetic power and energy. Transmission lines: TEM waves, coaxial line,
characteristic impedance, phase velocity. Quasi-TEM waves: microstrip, stripline, coplanar
waveguide, microwave and millimetre-wave integrated circuits. Dispersion, phase velocity and
group velocity. Waveguides: TE/TM/TEM modes, parallel plate guide, rectangular
waveguide, filters, resonators, couplers. EM radiation in free space: elementary dipole
radiation, radiation pattern, polarisation effects, radiation from superposition of sources,
elementary antenna and propagation concepts, free space communication systems. RF systems
architectures: base-band transmission via open wire and transmission line, bandwidth and
group delay limitations, sub-carrier and multiplex, FDM hierarchies, TDM and CDM, point-to-
point, broadcast, wireless networks, transponders and relays, satellite systems, DBS, functional
requirements of antennas, sources and subsystems for different network systems.

Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering

Course information 2

2. Optical Transmission Systems

16 lectures and 4 tutorials
Aims
An introduction to the principal types of transmission systems in use at optical frequencies,
how waveguide properties determine the performance of optical communications systems.
Objectives
Understanding
Modes, phase and group velocity, dispersion, cut-off, capacities of optical transmission systems
constraints due to fundamental nature of optical sources and dielectric media.
Knowledge
Systems properties derived from wave phenomena.
Skill
Design and analysis of systems employing optical fibres.
Syllabus
EM waves in dielectric media, dielectric polarisation, relative permittivity and permeability.
Boundary conditions. Reflection and transmission of plane waves at plane dielectric
boundaries. Dielectric guides: planar dielectric guide, concept of mode, phase and group
velocities, waveguide and material dispersion, integrated optics. Optical fibres: modes, single
mode and multi-mode, numerical aperture, fibre attenuation. Fibre transmission: attenuation,
pulse dispersion. Optical sources and detectors, coherence, noise and power budget
considerations. Fibre systems architectures: multiplex hierarchies for optical carrier systems,
WDM and OTDM; repeaters, regenerators and amplifiers; fibre amplifiers; functional
requirements for access, local area and global networks, SDH/SONET and ATM hierarchies.
3. Assignments
Aims
Design methods of systems employing RF transmission lines and optical waveguides.
Objectives
Understanding
Application of electromagnetic wave theory to transmission line and optical waveguide
problems.
Knowledge
Use of reflection coefficient measurements in line and component characterisation. Launching
methods for optical guided waves.
Skill
Design of components in guided-wave communications.
Syllabus
Use of S-parameters to analyse the performance of RF systems.
Dispersion compensation and light launching in optical fibre design.

Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering

Course information 3

Recommended books

Authors Title, edition Publisher Year ISBN Cost Code

D K Cheng Field And Wave Addison- 1989 0201528207 £17 B
Electromagnetics Wesley
J Gowar Optical Fibre Prentice 1993 0-13- £23 B
Communications Hall 638727-6
A D Olver Microwave and Wiley 1992 047193416X B
Optical
Transmission
D M Pozar Microwave Wiley 2005 0-471- C
Engineering 64451-X
Codes : A = compulsory; B = strongly recommended; C = recommended; D = wider reading

Study times

Type Hours
Lectures and tutorials 40
Assignments 20
Tutorial sheets 20
Review and consolidation of course material 70
Final revision and examination 30
These times are a rough estimate of the work required by a typical student. There will be
variations between individuals, but you will run the risk of failure if you spend significantly less
time on this course than these guidelines suggest.

Assessment

% Type Details
10 Assignment
90 Degree Examination 3 hour paper: 8 questions, choose 5 with at least 2
from each of Section A and Section B.
The degree examinations are held in week 27 onwards; no resit is available.

Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering