Microwave Teaching and Microwave Teaching and Research at Northumbria Research at Northumbria

UniversityUniversity

Prof. David SmithProf. David Smith

School of Computing, School of Computing, Engineering and Information Engineering and Information

TechnologyTechnology

Outline of PresentationOutline of Presentation• How do microwaves fit inHow do microwaves fit in

• Facilities within SchoolFacilities within School

• Microwave Research OutlineMicrowave Research Outline

• Details on Microwave HolographyDetails on Microwave Holography

• Results of Microwave HolographyResults of Microwave Holography

How do Microwaves fit in ?How do Microwaves fit in ?• Undergraduate coursesUndergraduate courses• B. Eng. Hons. CE 1 20 Point unit final yr,B. Eng. Hons. CE 1 20 Point unit final yr,• 40 Point final yr individual project40 Point final yr individual project• B. Sc Hons. MCT 1 20 Point unit final yrB. Sc Hons. MCT 1 20 Point unit final yr

• Post Graduate Taught CoursesPost Graduate Taught Courses• M. Sc Opto and Comms 1 10 Point unitM. Sc Opto and Comms 1 10 Point unit• 80 Point individual project80 Point individual project

• Research StudentsResearch Students• 5 Ph. D. Full Time Students 5 Ph. D. Full Time Students

New Facilities within SchoolNew Facilities within School

• Agilent sponsored Microwave Agilent sponsored Microwave Research LaboratoryResearch Laboratory

• Agilent sponsored Microwave Agilent sponsored Microwave Teaching LaboratoryTeaching Laboratory

• Agilent sponsored Opto and RF Agilent sponsored Opto and RF Research LaboratoryResearch Laboratory

Microwave Research / Microwave Research / Teaching FacilitiesTeaching Facilities

• Hardware – Major ItemsHardware – Major Items

• Vector AnalysisVector Analysis

• PNA to 50 GHz, PNA to 40 GHz, Old VNAPNA to 50 GHz, PNA to 40 GHz, Old VNA

• NSI Near Field Antenna Measurement SystemNSI Near Field Antenna Measurement System

• Spectrum Analysis, to 26.5 GHzSpectrum Analysis, to 26.5 GHz

• Synthesised sources, 50 GHz, 40 GHz, 20 GHzSynthesised sources, 50 GHz, 40 GHz, 20 GHz

• Vector Signal Generator to 6 GHzVector Signal Generator to 6 GHz

• Dielectric Measurement KitDielectric Measurement Kit

Microwave Research / Microwave Research / Teaching FacilitiesTeaching Facilities

• SoftwareSoftware

• Concerto - Full 3D EM simulatorConcerto - Full 3D EM simulator

• Microstripes – Full 3D EM simulatorMicrostripes – Full 3D EM simulator

• Genesys Microwave Design SoftwareGenesys Microwave Design Software

• General Mathematical SoftwareGeneral Mathematical Software

• Mathcad, MATLABMathcad, MATLAB

• Labview for automatic controlLabview for automatic control

RF / Microwave Research RF / Microwave Research PersonnelPersonnel

• 4 Full Time Academic Staff 4 Full Time Academic Staff ( Teaching )( Teaching )

• 2 Visiting Professors2 Visiting Professors

• 1 Visiting Fellow1 Visiting Fellow

• 2 Post Doc Researchers2 Post Doc Researchers

• 5 Post Graduate Researchers5 Post Graduate Researchers

• ( Full time Ph. D. students )( Full time Ph. D. students )

Areas of ResearchAreas of Research• Main areasMain areas

• Linear Amplification using Non-Linear Linear Amplification using Non-Linear Components ( LINC )Components ( LINC )

• Microwave holographyMicrowave holography

• Other areasOther areas

Linear Amplification using Non-Linear Amplification using Non-Linear Components ( LINC )Linear Components ( LINC )

• Allow high efficiency non-linear amps Allow high efficiency non-linear amps to be usedto be used

• Divide signal into in-phase and Divide signal into in-phase and quadrature componentsquadrature components

• AmplifyAmplify

• In-phase signals add - quadrature In-phase signals add - quadrature signals subtractsignals subtract

Microwave HolographyMicrowave Holography• Similar to Optical HolographySimilar to Optical Holography• Only measure Intensity – inexpensiveOnly measure Intensity – inexpensive• Called HologramCalled Hologram• Have developed techniques for doing Have developed techniques for doing

this at microwave frequenciesthis at microwave frequencies• Can reconstruct Complex Field from Can reconstruct Complex Field from

hologramhologram• Can use this information to obtain 3D Can use this information to obtain 3D

imagesimages

Holography OutlineHolography Outline

• Combine coherent scattered wave and reference Combine coherent scattered wave and reference wavewave

• Phase difference appears as change in intensity Phase difference appears as change in intensity • ( Hologram )( Hologram )• Illuminate with original reference wave to reconstruct Illuminate with original reference wave to reconstruct

complex fieldcomplex field• As phase is recovered we can get 3D imageAs phase is recovered we can get 3D image

Applying HolographyApplying Holography

• We have successfully applied these We have successfully applied these techniques in a number of areastechniques in a number of areas

• Microwave Antenna TestingMicrowave Antenna Testing

• Security ImagingSecurity Imaging

• Medical ImagingMedical Imaging

Antenna TestingAntenna Testing• Change conventional near field testing Change conventional near field testing

using Vector Analyserusing Vector Analyser• Measure Holographic Intensity PatternsMeasure Holographic Intensity Patterns• Don’t need Vector Analyser, just a Don’t need Vector Analyser, just a

power meterpower meter• Can use same mathematical techniques Can use same mathematical techniques

to find far field radiation patternsto find far field radiation patterns• Can reconstruct aperture fields for Can reconstruct aperture fields for

antennasantennas

Antenna TestingAntenna Testing

• Holographic Near Field Testing SystemHolographic Near Field Testing System

Antenna TestingAntenna Testing

• Adaptation of Conventional Near Field Adaptation of Conventional Near Field Testing TechniquesTesting Techniques

Antenna Testing ResultsAntenna Testing Results

H-Plane

10 8 6 4 2 0 2 4 6 8 1040

20

0

Andrews FF MeasurementsIndirect HolographyDirect Holography

10 8 6 4 2 0 2 4 6 8 1030

20

10

0

Andrews FF MeasurementsIndirect HolographyDirect Holography

(b) Angle (degrees)

Mag

nitu

de (

dB)

E-Plane

10 8 6 4 2 0 2 4 6 8 1040

20

0

Andrews FF MeasurementsIndirect HolographyDirect Holography

10 8 6 4 2 0 2 4 6 8 1030

20

10

0

Andrews FF MeasurementsIndirect HolographyDirect Holography

(c) Angle (degrees)

• Parabolic dish antenna far field radiation Parabolic dish antenna far field radiation patternspatterns

Security ImagingSecurity Imaging• Only record IntensityOnly record Intensity

• Quick and CheapQuick and Cheap

• Can reconstruct Magnitude and Can reconstruct Magnitude and Phase of original scattered wavePhase of original scattered wave

• Can use magnitude information to Can use magnitude information to detect metallic objectsdetect metallic objects

• Need Phase information to detect Need Phase information to detect non-metallic objectsnon-metallic objects

• Plastic explosivesPlastic explosives

Security ImagingSecurity Imaging

• Holographic Images of Gun cut-out Holographic Images of Gun cut-out

• Left – MagnitudeLeft – Magnitude Right - Phase Right - Phase

Real Image Magnitude

rebpM8

Real Image Phase

rebpP18

Security ImagingSecurity Imaging

• Magnitude and Phase reconstructions of Magnitude and Phase reconstructions of simulated plastic explosivesimulated plastic explosive

Magnitude Phase

Medical ImagingMedical Imaging

• Non-ionising imaging offers Non-ionising imaging offers advantages over X-ray advantages over X-ray mammographymammography

• High contrast ratio between healthy High contrast ratio between healthy and malignant tissueand malignant tissue

• Ability to resolve small targetsAbility to resolve small targets

• Good penetration into tissueGood penetration into tissue

• No health riskNo health risk

Medical Imaging – Medical Imaging – Experimental System Experimental System

Medical ImagingMedical Imaging

Illuminating

Antenna

Receiving

Antenna

BreastTissue

2r

h

d1 d2Tumor

1r

ImmersionMedium

3r

ConclusionsConclusions

• Outlined facilities for Microwave Outlined facilities for Microwave ResearchResearch

• Outlined areas of researchOutlined areas of research

• Outlined areas of application for Outlined areas of application for microwave imagingmicrowave imaging

• Presented results for these areasPresented results for these areas

• Interested in developing these Interested in developing these techniques for other areastechniques for other areas

Thank YouThank You