Microwave Journal
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The BookEnd

April 1, 1997

The Book End

Microwave Transistor Amplifiers: Analysis and Design -- Second Edition

Guillermo Gonzalez
Prentice Hall
506 pages; $86

This second edition presents a unified treatment of the analysis and design of microwave transistor amplifiers using scattering parameter techniques. The design procedures and analysis presented are not limited to microwave frequencies, but may be used in any frequency range where transistor scattering parameters are known. The book mainly describes circuits using silicon bipolar transistors (BJT) and GaAs MESFETs.

Chapter 1 begins with a detailed review of transmission-line concepts under sinusoidal excitation. An updated section on microwave transistors is presented and scattering parameter measurements are discussed. Chapter 2 opens with an explanation of Smith charts. The charts are used to design two- and three-section lumped-element matching structures. Signal flow graphs are used to describe gain and power characteristics, and scattering parameters are used to develop power-gain relations.

Chapter 3 covers microwave transistor amplifier design. A detailed derivation of stability conditions is also given. Design procedures are presented for determining various power gain characteristics. Constant gain circles are explained, and the trade-offs between SWR and gain are discussed. The selection and design of various DC bias networks are covered. Chapter 4 deals with low noise amplifiers and the trade-offs between low noise performance, gain and SWR. Broadband amplifiers, balanced amplifiers, couplers and feedback amplifiers are discussed. An expanded section on power amplifiers is included. Chapter 5 covers oscillators. The negative-resistance approach to oscillator design is presented in detail. A variety of oscillator circuits are designed using BJTs and GaAs MESFETs with varactors and dielectric resonators.

The text includes several new appendices. Appendix I shows the derivation of constant input and output SWR circles. Appendix K discusses noise concepts and Appendix L gives the derivation of the noise figure for a two-port network. Some design examples using a large-scale CAD program are also given. For those seeking a thorough understanding of modern amplifier and oscillator design, this book presents the subject in clear and concise terms. It is a must for most microwave engineering libraries.

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

Airborne Pulsed Doppler Radar -- Second Edition

Guy Morris and Linda Harkness
Artech House Inc.
510 pages; $89, £69

This Doppler radar text has been updated to include the technologies that have been incorporated in systems as well as newer technologies that will appear in the next five years. These revisions include sections on electronic counter-countermeasures and phased-array antennas, and discussions of stretch and stepped-frequency high range-resolution waveforms.

Chapter 1 presents the basic principles of pulsed Doppler radar, including radar types, a definition of terms, and the spectra and waveforms of stationary CW and pulsed radars. Chapter 2 explains the effects of platform motion on both CW and pulsed radar clutter.

Chapter 3 gives the spectral characteristics of a pulsed waveform and describes coherent radar detection. A brief discussion of the Fourier transform is presented and the spectra of stationary and moving targets are discussed. Chapters 4, 5 and 6 present radar characteristics in the low, high and medium pulse-repetition-frequency (PRF) modes, respectively, and their advantages. Antenna scan patterns common to these modes are described. Chapter 7 deals with phased-array technology and its application to airborne intercept radar. Phased-array antennas and their implementation are described. Chapters 8 and 9 detail Doppler processing and pulse compression, respectively. Chapter 10 focuses on synthetic aperture processing and its solution to the problem of attaining good cross-range resolution. Chapter 11 describes medium-PRF detectability and range resolving, while Chapter 12 covers the selection of medium PRFs. Chapter 13 details tracking techniques and how to improve system accuracy. Chapter 14 discusses target detection by airborne radars and summarizes noise-limited detection performance. Chapter 15 explains the effects of clutter on detection performance, Chapter 16 discusses target fluctuations and Chapter 17 examines automatic detection. The final chapter offers the fundamentals of electronic counter-countermeasures.

This book focuses primarily on system operation, implementation and application. As a result, it provides a basic understanding of pulsed Doppler radar systems for a broad range of engineers and students.

To order this book, contact: Artech House Inc., 685 Canton St., Norwood, MA 02062 (617) 769-9750, ext. 4002; or Portland House, Stag Place, London SW1E 5XA, UK +44 (0)171 973 8077.