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Understanding electromagnetics (EM) is essential for EMC Engineers. In addition to learning physics behind mathematics, i.e., Maxwell equations, using virtual tools with the aim of visualization of antenna system radiations, EM scattering and diffraction, as well as radiowave propagation are also essential. Here, simple MATLAB-based virtual tools ArrayGUI and SSPE_GUI are introduced for the visualization of radiation characteristics of basic antennas and their arrays and for the simulation of radiowave propagation.

Reports on APS society Distinguished Lecturer series.

Fresnel diffraction is a fundamental wave phenomenon. This article explains its physical nature using the examples of the diffraction of acoustic waves at soft and hard half-planes and at large apertures on a black screen. It is shown that the shadow radiation by opaque screens plays a central role in these diffraction phenomena. Fresnel-Kirchhoff diffraction at large apertures is presented as an asymptotic form of the shadow radiation. Fresnel and Grimaldi-type diffraction at the soft and hard half-planes is revealed as interference of the shadow radiation and the incident wave.

Electromagnetics-based subjects are fundamental in the electrical and electronic engineering curriculum. Electromagnetic theory is highly mathematical, intensive, and it is perceived as too abstract by students, which makes it a challenging subject to learn and to teach. The growth of computational simulation resources offers opportunities to overcome these challenges. Visualization is one effective way. Visualization tools have been created in the past years with the aim of increasing the interest and engagement of students with the subject matter. Such tools are effective methods of learning, as they enhance the student's understanding of the mathematical and physical concepts behind the theory, as well as the different applications in areas such as antennas, propagation, microwaves, radar, microelectronics, and so forth. This chapter describes four interactive computational MATLAB-based tools for assisting in teaching and learning electromagnetics. The tools are categorized as either tutorial-based problem-solving computational resources or as simulation and visualization interactive tools. The tools cover a range of electromagnetics topics common to undergraduate electronic and electrical engineering programs. These topics include electrostatics, magnetostatics, dynamic fields, transmission lines, antennas, and propagation. The tools aim to improve student engagement, learning outcomes, reduce staff workload, engage on-line students through blended learning, and increase student interest in electromagnetics education.

Electromagnetics education has evolved through the years, transitioning from the traditional face-to-face, instructor-led delivery mode to more modern practices, encouraging the active participation of students in their own learning. In 2020, educators around the world were forced to transform their teaching mode into online delivery due to the global pandemic. More recently, with the ease of COVID-19 restrictions in some countries, educators have adopted blended-learning strategies. However, despite the type of teaching modality adopted, it is important that educators maintain a curriculum that promotes active experimentation, uses computer modeling and visualization resources, and encourages engineering applications. This paper emphasizes important features that educators should consider when structuring or restructuring an electromagnetics course.

Education around the world has recently been transformed due to COVID-19. Face-to-face teaching has been replaced by virtual learning in a very short period of time, and academics have been forced to employ new technologies and resources to satisfy the needs and demands of students. Maintaining the undergraduate curriculum with minimal disruption has been a challenge for educators. Electromagnetics engineering education is highly dependent on practical activities. Hands-on experiences are necessary to understand the complex mathematical concepts that underlie electromagnetics fundamentals. How universities are dealing with the transition to online learning is of great interest. Remote integrated platforms, laboratory simulation, and video experiment recordings are some of the resources employed by academics in a virtual learning environment. However, while some classes have coped reasonably well with the online transition, others have been adversely affected, creating losses in student engagement and retention. This chapter aims to bring together the experiences, philosophies, and reflections of academics in differing geographical regions, in the context of the sudden shift to virtual learning in response to COVID-19. The challenges of maintaining high-quality learning experiences when differences in access to devices, Internet, and electricity connection exists are discussed.

A new version of PETOOL (Parabolic Equation Toolbox) is introduced with various additional capabilities. PETOOL is an open-source and MATLAB-based software tool with a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) for the analysis and visualization of electromagnetic wave propagation over variable terrain and through arbitrary atmosphere. Four novel features of the second version are as follows: (i) Several evaporation duct models have been developed. (ii) Real atmosphere data have been included in the form of "Binary Universal Form for Representation (BUFR)" data developed by "World Meteorological Organization (WMO)". (iii) Real terrain data have been incorporated into the toolbox in the form of "Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED)" developed by "National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA)". (iv) A special add-on has been developed to generate a 3D coverage map of propagation factor/loss on real terrain data. The toolbox can be used for research and/or educational purposes to analyze more realistic propagation scenarios in an easier and flexible manner. Program summary Program title: PETOOL v2.0 (Parabolic Equation Toolbox v2.0) CPC Library link to program files: http://dx.doi.org/10.17632/v8f42rn2zs.1 Licensing provisions: GNU General Public License 3 Programming language: MATLAB (MathWorks Inc.) R2019a. Partial Differential Toolbox, Curve Fitting Toolbox and Mapping Toolbox required. Journal Reference of previous version: O. Ozgun, G. Apaydin, M. Kuzuoglu, and L. Sevgi, PETOOL: MATLAB-based one-way and two-way split-step parabolic equation tool for radiowave propagation over variable terrain, Computer Physics Communications 182 (2011) 2638-2654. Does the new version supersede the previous version?: Yes Reasons for the new version: The new version of the toolbox has been enriched with several add-ons which allow the toolbox to make more realistic analyses with real terrain and atmospheric data. The toolbox has the ability to read real atmospheric data in the form of BUFR data and real terrain data in the form of DTED data. A wide range of evaporation duct models has been incorporated into the toolbox. A special add-on has been developed to generate a 3D coverage map of propagation factor/loss on real terrain data. Hence, the toolbox can be used to analyze more realistic propagation scenarios in an easier and flexible manner. Summary of revisions: (i) Several evaporation duct models have been included with real atmospheric data in BUFR format. (ii) Real terrain data in DTED format have been incorporated into the toolbox. (iii) A special add-on has been developed to generate a 3D coverage map of propagation factor/loss on real terrain data. Nature of problem: This program is designed with a user-friendly GUI for the analysis and visualization of radio-wave propagation over variable terrain on the Earth's surface, and through homogeneous and inhomogeneous atmosphere by using real atmosphere and terrain data. It can easily model both horizontally- and vertically-varying atmospheric refraction (especially ducting) and multipath effects. Solution method: The program employs one-way and two-way Split-Step Parabolic Equation (SSPE) algorithms with a wide-angle propagator. The SSPE is an initial-value problem starting from a reference range (typically from an antenna), and marching out in range by obtaining the field along the vertical direction at each range step, through the use of step-by-step Fourier transformations. The two-way algorithm incorporates the backward-propagating waves into the standard one-way SSPE by utilizing an iterative forward-backward scheme for modeling multipath effects over a staircase-approximated terrain. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Modern advances in the fields of antennas, propagation, microwaves, millimeter waves, remote sensing, photonics, and many other related sciences have driven the need for highly qualified theorists and practitioners in electromagnetic (EM) engineering. Rapid scientific progress, combined with ever-shifting technological priorities, has created an urgent need to train new generations of EM engineers...

Presents the answers to a quiz on electromagnetics diffraction.

This study aims to visualize the diffraction effects of objects with rounded edges using method of moments (MoM). The comparison of scattering effects of wedges and trilateral cylinders are shown with and without rounded edges using fringe integral equations with physical theory of diffraction (PTD).

This paper discusses electromagnetic Virtual Tools designed for teaching / training electromagnetics to the next generations.

Discusses visits to APS student branch locations in Iran and India.

Metamaterials are widely investigated as nominates for absorbers and shields in Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) techniques. Due to the dispersive nature of artificially constructed metamaterials, permittivity and/or permeability can be negative at a certain band of frequency. Since the propagation constant has imaginary values in lossless SNG media, electromagnetic waves decay in these media and reflect at the surface. When the permittivity and permeability values are both negative, propagating waves are supported and impedance matching between a double negative (DNG) medium and air can be achieved. For this reason, single negative (SNG) materials can be used in electromagnetic shielding applications and DNG materials for realization of electromagnetic (EM) absorbers. Theoretical analysis of metamaterial (MTM) based electromagnetic absorbers and shields are investigated using S- parameter calculations, and properties are presented as a function of layer compositions and different dispersion parameters of medium permittivity and permeability values. The characteristics of EM absorber/shields are also observed when metamaterial layers are stacked on a metal plate.

Wide ocean area surveillance using high frequency surface wave radar(s) is discussed in this paper. Theoretical and practical issues and problems are reviewed. Modeling and simulation challenges such as ionospheric clutter mitigation, ocean clutter, surface wave propagation over multi-mixed paths, EM scattering and RCS characteristics of surface and air targets, and signal detection and tracking are presented.

The paper investigates diffraction at trilateral cylinders with combinations of soft (electric) and hard (magnetic) faces. Scattered field in far zone is calculated according to the physical theory of diffraction. The first-order high-frequency approximation is constructed as a sum of single-diffracted edge waves. Plotted numerical data clearly demonstrate the difference for objects with different faces. Substantial suppression of backscattering is observed for cylinders with soft-hard illuminated faces. Fringe wave contributions to the scattered field are shown. Physical theory of diffraction results are compared with those of the physical optics and confirmed by the method of moments.

Modified theory of physical optics (MTPO) solution for a soft/hard strip is analyzed. It is shown that this solution is incorrect because the MTPO Green function does not satisfy boundary conditions. Defects of MTPO in calculations of fringe waves are also noticed.

The paper explores diffraction of acoustic waves at a two-dimensional hard trilateral cylinder with rounded edges. It represents the extension of the physical theory of diffraction (PTD) for finite objects with rounded edges. A first-order PTD approximation is developed. Integral equations are formulated for acoustic fringe waves and solved by method of moments (MoM). Good agreement is observed with the exact solution found by MoM when the object size exceeds a few wavelengths.