Microwave and Millimeter Systems

Innovations in microwave system design using better analog and digital receiver technologies are making new electromagnetic measurements possible.
Multi-channel, wide bandwidth, fully coherent systems have been developed and applied in areas such as:

• wireless communications and
• radio astronomy. 

The ESL currently possesses a cutting-edge microwave systems laboratory that acts as support for the compact radar range and various microwave system research programs. Recent work revolves around the Hewlett-Packard 8510B and 8753C network analyzers, enabling measurements between 300 KHz to 18 GHz.

While these systems are primarily for testing components, they are also being used to develop devices and systems which are not commercially available, including:

• new types of antennas,
• receivers,
• transmitters, and
• controlling apparatus

These devices might be used in satellite communications applications or in certain radar cross section (RCS) measurements.

Several graduate students have used the network analyzers while building and testing new pulsed-radar systems for the ESL's compact radar range.