Microwave Journal
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The Book End

February 1, 1998

The Book End

Fundamentals of Applied Electromagnetics

Fawwaz T. Ulaby
Prentice Hall
407 pages; $88

The changing electrical engineering curriculum has resulted in the need for traditional electromagnetics (EM) to be taught to undergraduate students in a one-semester course instead of two. This book is designed to fill that need. The text covers applied EM, which encompasses the study of electric and magnetic phenomena and their engineering applications under both static and dynamic conditions. Primary emphasis is placed on the fundamental properties of time-varying EM fields because of their greater relevance to practical problems in many engineering disciplines. The book concentrates on wave propagation in guided media, such as coaxial transmission lines and optical fibers, wave reflection and transmission, imaging properties of mirrors and lenses, and antenna radiation.

The text begins by bridging the gap between what is already familiar to a third-year electrical engineering student and the required EM material. Chapter 1 reviews complex numbers and phasor analysis and Chapter 2 covers transmission line theory. The next three chapters cover vector analysis, electrostatics and magnetostatics. The chapter on electrostatics encompasses Maxwell’s equations for the time-varying case, which are then specialized to electrostatics and magnetostatics.

Chapter 6 deals with time-varying fields, leading into plane-wave propagation in dielectric and conducting media, which is discussed in Chapter 7. Chapter 8 details reflection and transmission at discontinuous boundaries and discusses fiber optics and the imaging properties of mirrors and lenses. Chapter 9 introduces the principle of radiation by currents flowing in wires, such as dipoles, as well as radiation by apertures, such as in a horn antenna or an opening in an opaque screen illuminated by a light source. In Chapter 10, the book concludes with current applications in EM by presenting two system examples: satellite communication systems and radar sensors.

This text avoids lengthy derivations of theorems and concentrates on developing the student’s competence in applying vector calculus to solve EM problems of practical interest. The book is the basis for an interesting and efficient EM course that should provide a solid foundation for the student to build on.

To order this book, contact:
Prentice Hall,
PO Box 11073,
Des Moines, IA 50336
(800) 947-7700.

RF Systems, Components and Circuits Handbook

Ferril Losee
Artech House Inc.
599 pages; $79, £63

Many of today’s most important RF systems, such as cellular telephones, fiber-optic systems, digital satellite television and the Global Positioning Satellite system, did not even exist 10 years ago. Hence, there now is a need for an up-to-date text covering these topics as well as the more important older RF systems and devices. This book is divided into two parts covering RF systems, and RF components and circuits.

Chapter 1 supplies background information along with an introduction to communication services and systems. Chapter 2 introduces RF systems, including radar, navigation and electronic countermeasures. Chapter 3 discusses RF propagation and Chapter 4 presents RF noise and signal-to-noise ratio concepts. Chapter 5 describes modulation techniques and performance characteristics and Chapter 6 presents concepts and design information on RF amplifiers, oscillators, frequency multipliers and mixers. Chapter 7 discusses modulators and demodulators. Chapter 8 presents several examples of the older communication system types. Chapter 9 describes current and future commercial communication systems, including cellular telephone systems. Chapter 10 covers radar systems.

Part II begins with a discussion of transmission lines. Chapter 12 covers waveguides and related devices. Concepts and design information on antennas are provided in Chapter 13. Chapter 14 describes RF lumped constant components and circuits, including resistors, inductors and capacitors. Chapter 15 details RF transformers, including RF core materials, IF transformers, power dividers and combiners.

Chapter 16 examines piezoelectric, ferrimagnetic and acoustic-wave devices and circuits. Information on semiconductor diodes and circuits is presented in Chapter 17. Chapter 18 discusses transistors and transistor circuits. Finally, Chapter 19 describes grid-type vacuum tubes and circuits.

The book is an easy-to-understand, comprehensive digest on RF components, circuits and systems. The text can be used for both course work and as a reference source.

To order this book, contact:
Artech House Inc.,
685 Canton St.,
Norwood, MA 02062
(781) 769-9750, ext. 4002; or

Portland House,
Stag Place,
London SW1E 5XA, UK
+44 (0) 171 973 8077.