Module overview
The course presents the principles and applications of electromagnetic theory with examples in high-speed electronics, communications and electromagnetic compatibility, and provides an introduction to photonic engineering.
It covers the underlying mathematics of vector fields and electromagnetics required for communications. Course participants will become familiar with the most common methods of data transmission including short and long distance electronic interconnect, fibre optic interconnect and wireless interconnect.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Electromagnetic wave propagation in free space and materials
- Maxwell's equations, their application and context
- Interaction between electromagnetic waves, materials and interfaces
- Waveguides and optical fibres
- Vector differential calculus
- Antennas for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves
- Data transmission lines
- Electromagnetic boundary conditions
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Electromagnetic propagation and antennas
- Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)
- Basic coherent and non-coherent optics
- Electromagnetic theory
- Electromagnetic and electrostatic fields
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Interactions between EM waves and matter and its application to communications (optical and wireless)
- Understand use of vector calculus to represent fields and waves
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Select and use appropriate interconnect for short and long distance communications
Syllabus
Electromagnetism in industrial electronics: electromagnetic compatibility, the mobile phone and optical fibre communications
- Vectors, Vector fields, and Vector calculus
- Div, Grad, Curl,
- Divergence theorem, Stokes' theorem
- Maxwell's equations
- Coulomb's law and Gauss' Law
- Energy and momentum in electromagnetic fields
- Electrostatic dipoles and dielectrics
- Electromagnetic wave propagation in air, metal conductors, and dielectric materials
- Electromagnetic spectrum
- Frequency dependent properties of metal transmission lines
- Skin-depth and impedance
- Reflection and refraction of light
- Use of total internal reflection for data transmission in optical waveguides, and fibres
- Frequency dependent properties of optical waveguides
- Convergence of electronic and optical data transmission for semiconductor devices
- Introduction to planar lightwave circuits, and silicon photonic devices
- Radiation and antennas for wireless communications
Learning and Teaching
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Wider reading or practice | 48 |
| Completion of assessment task | 8 |
| Revision | 10 |
| Follow-up work | 18 |
| Tutorial | 12 |
| Lecture | 36 |
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 18 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Internet Resources
RF and Microwave Engineering: Fundamentals of Wireless Communications.
Textbooks
David J. Griffiths. Introduction to Electrodynamics. Pearson,Benjamin Cummings.
Joseph Edminister. Electromagnetics. Schaum’s Outline series.
Assessment
Assessment strategy
Students will receive feedback in-class during lectures and laboratory sessions. Feedback will be given after the courseworks are marked.
Demonstrators will help and advise students, as well as grading their work.
Students may contact the teaching team via email for advice and academic support.
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Continuous Assessment | 15% |
| Final Assessment | 85% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Set Task | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Set Task | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External