Microwaves are electromagnetic waves with frequencies between 300MHz- 300GHz. Microwave communication uses microwave towers to transmit signals over long distances via line-of-sight. Key applications of microwaves include communication systems, satellite systems, radar for target detection, microwave heating for cooking and industrial processes, and microwave spectroscopy for materials analysis. Microwaves have advantages over lower frequencies including smaller antenna size, ability to penetrate some materials, and providing larger bandwidth for more channels in communication.

1. INTRODUCTION TO MICROWAVE
ENGINEERING: Characteristics &
Applications
CT 4th Semester 2018
By- Parismita A. Kashyap

2. How EM wave looks like…

3. Different Frequency Bands

4. Different Frequency Bands

5. Electromagnetic Spectrum

6. Definition
 Microwaves are electromagnetic waves ranging from as long as one meter to
as short as one millimeter or with frequencies between 300MHz- 300GHz.
 The one with shorter wavelengths are also called millimeter waves
 EM waves longer (lower frequencies) than microwaves are called radio
waves.
 Microwave communication is the transmission of signals via radio using a
series of microwave towers.
 Microwave communication is also known as a form of ‘line of sight’
communication.
 The technology used for microwave communication was developed in the
early 1940s by Western Union
 The first microwave message was sent in 1945 from towers located in New
York and Philadelphia.

8. Characteristic Features
Small Wavelength in relation to component sizes and circuit dimensions
1. Standard circuit theory cannot be used to solve network problems.
2. The phase of voltage and current changes significantly over the physical
extent of the device.
3. At much lower frequencies the wavelength is large enough and there is
insignificant phase variations across the dimensions of the component.
4. At microwave frequencies analysis has to be carried out in electric and
magnetic field. So, it is an applied EMF.
Measurements
1. Measurement of field amplitude, phase difference and power carried by the
EM wave
2. Cannot calculate voltage, current and impedances by direct method
3. Quantities that can directly measured are reflection coefficients and
transmission coefficients.

9. Characteristic Features
Different appearance of microwave circuit components
1. At high frequencies the impedance of connected links and terminals
increases to a considerable amount and we get distributed by stray
capacitance or inductance.
2. At 1MHz coil act as inductor
3. At 100MHz coil act as capacitor
LXL 
C
XC

1

Impedance of capacitor
is much more less than
that of inductor at high
frequency; so coil act as
capacitor

10. Applications

11. Applications
Communication (Wireless: Terrestrial systems)
1. Antenna gain increases at higher frequencies for a given antenna size.
The transmitter gain signifies the fraction of power or
strength of the input signal that the transmitting
antenna is delivering towards the desired direction of
the receiving antenna.
2
4

 eA
G 
2. At higher frequencies, BW is more
1% BW at 600MHz is 6MHz (BW of a single television channel)
1% BW at 60GHz is 600MHz (BW of a 100 television channel
Small antenna size hence power requirement is also
small.

12. Applications
3. They can penetrate through fog, dust, foliage and even buildings and
vehicles to some extent.
4. Since 1950s microwave radio systems has become popular for long distance
telephone communication
5. Because of the curvature of the earth repeaters are placed at about 150km
apart.
6. These systems provide needed transmission BW and reliability.
Satellite
1. Satellites in a geosynchronous earth orbit are positioned approx 36000km
above the earth and remain in a fixed position relative to the surface.
2. Frequency bands used are C, X, Ku, Ka
3. Inside sea, OFC has replaced satellites for transoceanic connections as they
are economical avoids annoying delay.

13. Applications
Wireless communication systems

14. Applications
Satellite communication systems

15. Applications
Radio Detection and Ranging (RADAR)
1. The Tx sends out the signal which is partly reflected by a distant target and then detected by a sensitive
receiver.
2. If a narrow beam antenna is used, target direction can be accurately measured by the position of the
antenna.
3. Reflection from a target is significant when wavelength is smaller than frequency.
4. RADAR is practically applicable at microwave frequency. Thus, RADAR triggered the birth of microwave
technology.

16. RADAR continued….

17. RADAR continued….

18. RADAR continued….

19. RADAR continued….

20. RADAR continued….

21. RADAR continued….

22. Applications
Microwave Heating
1. Domestic microwave heating: Heat is produced directly at the locations of dielectric losses.
2. Industrial: Drying in textile industry
3. Medical: Microwave diathermy.

23. Applications
Microwave Radio Spectroscopy
1. Widely used for analysis of structure and basic properties of materials
2. It has led to the development of new devices such as MASER amplifiers and oscillators