Previous ink characterization results published in the paper are corrected by new characterization measurements from Co inks based on same cobalt nanoparticles bound together with poly(methyl methacrylate). New measurements results are reported as vol% whereas previous results were reported as wt.%. Correlations are 30 vol% = ∼80 wt.%, 40 vol% = ∼86 wt.% and 50 vol% = ∼90 wt.%.

This article describes an improved design procedure for shaped-beam reflectarrays, which is advanced mainly in accuracy and concision. Specifically, the excitation has been computed by a new approach named local simulation instead of mathematical modeling, which demonstrates more advantage in precision. The intersection approach has been applied to optimization, and it is improved by introducing a new multi-stage strategy into the synthesis process to avoid local minima. Moreover, the phase-only optimization, calculation of the reflection phase data table and the simulation verification processes are combined as a co-simulation procedure by VBScript (Visual Basic Script). This procedure is very beneficial to design reflectarrays with efficiency. As an example, a reflectarray consists of 621 dual-loop elements is optimized, and a good sectored-cosecant squared beam result is obtained.

In order to decouple traditional levitation windings and armature windings, a new self-decoupling magnetic levitation generator (SDMLG) is proposed for wind turbines. This new generator adopts double-stator structure. The armature windings are in the outer stator, and the levitation windings are in the inner stator. The rotor is made of a distributed hollow structure, so that it can effectively decouple the levitation subsystem and armature subsystem. The new structure and operating principle of the generator are presented in this paper. Then the expressions of levitation forces are deduced by analyzing magnetic flux distributions and winding flux linkages. Finite-element analysis method (FEA) is used as the tool for analyzing the performance of the new generator. And the results verify that the levitation windings and armature windings are effectively decoupled.

Suspended particles in the atmosphere during sand and dust storms have numerous consequences on electromagnetic wave propagation in arid regions. The electromagnetic wave signal may suffer attenuation and cross polarization upon encounter with the suspended particles. However, meager information has hitherto been reported about effect of storms on the telecommunication systems operating in such regions. This paper presents a survey of current understanding of the electromagnetic wave propagation in sand and dust storms. A review of the literature covering electromagnetic scattering theory and applications is given. The review describes the principle of approach and technology adopted for the investigation highlighting both strengths and drawbacks. Detailed parametric assessment of the effects of storms on wave propagation as it concerns signal attenuation and cross polarization is also carried out. The results demonstrate that most authors have calculated the attenuation effect, revealing that it is not very significant unless very high suspended dust densities are assumed (i.e. during severe sand and dust storms). A few papers indicate the possibility of more significant cross polarisation. The obvious gap in knowledge of this field is finally also clearly established.

Electromagnetic wave propagation in arid and semi-arid regions is influenced by sand and dust storms. Meagre information has hitherto been reported as to the effect of storms on telecommunication systems operating in such regions. This paper presents a survey of current understanding of the electromagnetic wave propagation during sand and dust storms. In the first part of the review, detailed parametric assessment of some electrical and mechanical properties affecting wave propagation in sand and dust storms is given. The second part of the review (Part-II) describes the principle of approach and technology adopted for the investigation highlighting both strengths and drawbacks. The results demonstrate that most authors have calculated signal attenuation effect, revealing that it is not very significant unless very high suspended dust densities are assumed (i.e. during severe sand and dust storms). A few papers indicate the possibility of more significant cross polarisation. Part-I explicitly gives an account of the sand and dust storms' phenomenon, reviews the storms' parameters affecting electromagnetic wave propagations and discusses the microwave and millimeter wave bands.

We obtain a Sturm-Lioville matrix equation of motion (SLME) for the study of electromagnetic wave propagation in layered anisotropic structures. Conducting media were taken into account so that ohmic loss is considered. This equation can be treated using a 4×4 associated transfer matrix (T) in layered anisotropic structures, where the tensors: permittivity, permeability and the electric conductivity have a piecewise dependence on the coordinate perpendicular to the layered structure. We use the SLME eigenfunctions and eigenvalues to analyze qualitatively the numerical instability (Ωd problem) which potentially affects practical applications of the transfer matrix method. By means of the SLME coefficients we show analytically that T determinant value can be used to keep a check on the numerical accuracy of calculations. We derive equations to analyze wave propagation in linear layered isotropic structures. The SLME approach is applied on two typical layered structures to verify theoretical predictions and experimental results.

Given that building occupants and more importantly public safety personnel regularly use stairwell to move about different floors in a multi-floor building, wireless network coverage for the setting may come as necessary in order to ensure seamless telecommunication connectivity. Nevertheless, wireless network planning pertaining to multi-floor stairwell scenario requires unique radio characterization since the scenario is different from other indoor environments. This paper presents a frequency dependent path loss and shadowing model for the multi-floor stairwell environment that was developed and tested at six dog-leg style stairwells. The empirical model covers frequency spectrum from 0.7 GHz up to 2.5 GHz which envelop numerous public safety and long term evolution operating bands. The model demonstrates good precision and is shown to outperform standard path loss model when comparison was made since it includes site-specific parameters describing radio characteristics natural to stairwell setting. The straightforward mathematical expression of the model can easily be applied when setting up or studying wireless network for the stipulated frequency range with respect to the multi-floor stairwell.

Free space path loss modelling is a model used to model path loss propagation for Wireless Local Area Networks. In some cases, the estimation of path loss by the FSL model can be inaccurate as FSL modelling does not take into account the effect of multipath propagation. The International Telecommunication Union Recommendation, ITU-R P.1411-7 provides prediction methods for the planning of short-range outdoor radio communication systems and radio local area networks in the frequency range 300 MHz to 100 GHz. This recommendation further proposes a location variability correction, ρ, which models the standard deviation of field strength due to small scale fading. This paper investigates the feasibility of using the ITU-R P.1141-7 Recommendation to estimate the path loss for 802.11n signals experienced by pedestrians in a suburban environment. Received signal strengths were collected from field experiments, and the measured path loss was compared with estimated path loss values. The results show that for areas with high levels of small scale fading, the ITU-R P.1141-7 was able to estimate the path loss for IEEE 802.11n signals with a higher accuracy of 5-7 dB than the FSL model.

An Eigenanalysis-based technique is presented for the study and design of large complicated closed cavities and particularly Reverberation Chambers, including conductor and dielectric material losses. Two different numerical approaches are exploited, while a Perturbation technique is employed to acquire an approximate reference solution. First, a straightforward approach is adopted where the finite walls conductivity is incorporated into the Finite Element Method (FEM) formulation through the Leontovich Impedance boundary conditions. The resulting eigenproblem is linearized through an eigenvalue transformation and solved using the Arnoldi algorithm. To address the excessive computational requirements of this approach and to achieve a fine mesh ensuring convergence, a novel approach is adopted. Within this, a linear eigenvalue problem is formulated and solved assuming all metallic structures as perfect electric conductors (PEC). In turn, the resulting eigenfunctions are post-processed within the Leontovich boundary condition for the calculation of the metals finite conductivity losses. Mode stirrer design guidelines are setup based on the eigenfunction characteristics. Both numerical eigenanalysis techniques are validated against an analytical solution for the empty cavity and a reverberation chamber simulated by a commercial FEM simulator. A series of classical mode stirrers are studied to verify the design guidelines, and an improved mode stirrer is developed.

High-Altitude Platform (HAP) is a promising technique for providing wireless communications services with improved performance compared to terrestrial and satellite systems. A critical issue in this emerging system is the difficulty of providing user location information through two-dimensional direction-of-arrival (2D-DOA) estimation due to the high computational complexity and the large covered area. Therefore, in this paper, an efficient technique has been proposed to determine user location through 2D-DOA with a reduced processing time. The proposed technique estimates the 2D-DOA in two stages. In the first stage, a low-resolution 2D-DOA estimation technique will be utilized, such as Bartlett algorithm performed on a low-resolution distance grid, then a suitable threshold is applied on the normalized Bartlett 2D-DOA spectrum to define ground windows for the next high-resolution 2D-DOA stage. The second stage is carried out by a high-resolution technique such as MUSIC algorithm and will be performed on a high-resolution distance grid. Two scenarios are examined for the proposed technique to investigate the reduction in processing time compared with the conventional 2D-DOA MUSIC algorithm without windowing. Simulation results show that at 40 meters resolution, the required processing time is only 20% of the conventional MUSIC algorithm and can be further reduced to 4% at resolution of 100 meters at the same array size. In addition, the proposed technique can be applied to any other efficient low-complexity 2D-DOA algorithms.

A novel traveling-wave hybrid plasmonic optical antenna is proposed for operation at the standard telecommunication wavelength of 1550 nm and with the frequency bandwidth of more than 16 THz. A highly directive radiation pattern with 15.2 dBi directivity and 82% efficiency is achieved. The developed antenna benefits from high directivity advantage of leaky-wave antennas, and low loss properties and confinement of hybrid plasmonic structures. The designed device can have applications in inter/intera chip optical interconnect, and absorption enhancement of photodetectors, and solar cells.

This paper presents a novel design of dual polarized space-fed antenna arrays with broad bandwidth and high isolation between two orthogonal ports. The dual polarized space-fed antenna arrays are designed with bottom radiating element electromagnetically coupled to two orthogonal open microstrip lines and top parasitic elements excited by the radiation from bottom radiating element, without any feed network for array elements excitation. Two space-fed antenna arrays with 7 and 19 parasitic elements, respectively, have been designed for 5.8 GHz frequency band and their performances are analyzed. The dual polarized space-fed array with 19 parasitic elements has been fabricated, and its performance is measured. The measured impedance bandwidth is 10.7%, isolation ≥32 dB between two orthogonal ports over entire bandwidth, maximum gain of 17.8 dBi and cross-polar levels ≤-29 dB.

This paper presents a dual-band impedance transformer for real source and load impedances that is capable of providing matching at two arbitrary frequencies. There are two possible configurations of the proposed technique, and both the configurations are simple and possess flexibility to cater to wide range of impedance environments. A very useful feature of the design is its inherent ability to provide DC isolation. A prototype, which works at 1 GHz and 2 GHz, fabricated using Roger's RO4350B laminate validates the proposed design with a good match between theoretical and experimental results. In addition, a dual-band T-junction power divider is reported to demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed impedance transformer.

In this letter, a novel compact dual-band microstrip bandpass filter (BPF) with multiple transmission zeros is proposed using the third-order interdigital structure and dual-mode short stub center-loaded resonator (DSLR) for wideband and WLAN applications. The high impedance feedline for the filter with the folded DSLR can function as the quarter-wavelength resonator (QWR) for the third-order interdigital filter. Meanwhile, the folded DSLR can be adopted without an evident increase of the size of the compact interdigital filter. Three transmission zeros between two passbands and in the lower- and upper-stopbands can be created due to the cross coupling between two high impedance feedlines as well as between the input and output, and the intrinsic characteristic of the DSLR. Further, two inverse QWR coupling short stubs with different size loaded in the 50 Ω feedlines can generate four transmission zeros to improve the isolation and deepen the stopband. Finally, a compact dual-band BPF prototype is designed, and good agreement can be obtained between measured and simulated results.

Knowledge of propagation media, typically gathered through physical experiments and simulations, is absolutely critical in successful transceiver design. In the case of medical implants, physical experiments are extremely difficult. Therefore, we rely on simulations in most studies. In this paper, Path Loss (PL) between implanted antennas, as a measure of propagation channel characteristics, is investigated using High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) and Remcom's XFDTD 7 (XF7). An Electrically Coupled Loop Antenna (ECLA) is designed to study PL inside human body models at different frequency bands: Medical Implanted Communication Services (MICS) band (402-405 MHz), Industrial Scientific and Medical (ISM) band (2.4 2.5 GHz) and 3.5 GHz band (3.55-3.65 GHz). The ECLA has dimensions (5×5×3 mm³), (3×3×3 mm³) and (2×2×2 mm³) at MICS, ISM and 3.5 GHz respectively. ECLA performance inside human body models is studied at the allowed frequency bands. The effects of frequency bands, human model electrical properties, and distance between implants on PL are considered. Simulation results are validated with experimental work. Our results show that the ECLA at MICS band has the lowest Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) and the highest allowed input power. Also, the MICS band has the lowest PL inside the human body model, shown to be less than 90 dB in the worst case scenario.

The Floquet-Bloch theorem allows waves in infinite, lossless periodic media to be expressed as a sum of discrete Floquet-Bloch modes, but its validity is challenged under the realistic constraints of loss and finite extent. In this work, we mathematically reveal the existence of Floquet-Bloch modes in the electromagnetic fields sustained by lossy, finite periodic layered media using Maxwell's equations alone without invoking the Floquet-Bloch theorem. Starting with a transfer-matrix representation of the electromagnetic field in a generic layered medium, we apply Fourier transformation and a series of mathematical manipulations to isolate a term explicitly dependent on Floquet-Bloch modes. Fourierdomain representation of the electromagnetic field can be reduced into a product of the Floquet-Bloch term and two other matrix factors: one governed by reflections from the medium boundaries and another dependent on layer composition. Electromagnetic fields in any finite, lossy, layered structure can now be interpreted in the Fourier-domain by separable factors dependent on distinct physical features of the structure. The developed theory enables new methods for analyzing and communicating the electromagnetic properties of layered metamaterials.

The substrate integrated non-radiative dielectric (SINRD) guide presents a rather complicated process of design and implementation because of multiple interrelated design parameters involved in the definition of structures. In this work, the size of SINRD guide is halved by using a perfect electrical conductor (PEC) image plane. Consequently, the number of modes in the resulting image SINRD (iSINRD) guide is equally reduced since all even modes including the LSE₁₀ mode are suppressed. Furthermore, a simple yet accurate design method is proposed that takes into account many parameters involved in the design of an SINRD guide, especially dimensions of perforation and dispersion effects. Three iSINRD prototypes are fabricated to test the proposed method over the W-band frequency range. Two of the prototypes are based on Alumina substrate with different perforation profiles, and both exhibit insertion loss around 1 dB while the return loss is around 16 dB. The third is based on RO6002 substrate and exhibits an insertion loss of around 3 dB and a return loss of around 14 dB. To test the leakage loss caused by periodic gaps in the PEC wall, two iSINRD lines with one and three gaps were fabricated. The insertion and return losses of the former case are respectively 1.2 dB and 17 dB compared to 2.5 dB and 18 dB of the latter case.

We present the application to transmission line systems of a new theory of the optical theorem that describes the energy budget of electromagnetic scattering in lossless wave propagation media. The insight gained by exploring this, simplest of the electromagnetic wave propagation systems from the point of view of the optical theorem, is important for understanding power budget of electromagnetic scattering due to the presence of targets in a medium, and of changes of loads due to parasitics, faults, switching, and other reasons, in transmission lines, with applications to quality control in manufacturing, self-monitoring of microwave circuits, and the detection of load changes and faults in power transmission and distribution systems. The results also apply to more general electromagnetic propagation systems and are relevant for the development of novel electromagnetic (e.g., microwave, terahertz) and optical sensors.

This paper develops the kriging method to calculate the whole body Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) for any angle of incidence of a plane wave on any body model using a minimum number of Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) simulations. Practical application of this method is to study people's exposure. Thanks to kriging method, it will enable to answer to the challenge of studying the exposure in a realistic environment. This approach develops a new tool in order to improve the field of stochastic dosimetry. The kriging method is applied to a girl body model in order to determine the variogram model, then this model is validated on a boy body model. Thanks to only 40 numerical SAR values, kriging method enables to estimate any SAR value with a mean relative error under 3%.

In this paper, a novel microstrip antenna array with reduced radar cross-section (RCS) in grazing angle is proposed and studied. We define that the grazing angle θ of radar incident wave ranges from 80° to 90°. Under the condition that the incident wave is in grazing angle, a microstrip antenna designed by the techniques of miniaturization and ground-cut slots is given firstly. Compared with a traditional rectangle microstrip antenna, the RCS peaks of the proposed antenna are efficiently controlled over the frequency range of 4~16 GHz. Based on the design above, the proposed antenna is chosen as an element to design a 2×2 antenna array. Analysis and optimization of the arrangement of the array is made to achieve more RCS reduction. The measured results of radiation performance accord with the simulated ones, which indicate that the proposed method is feasible.