Electromagnetics, RF, Microwave, and Wireless¶

Audience¶

Learners progressing from fields and waves to RF circuits, antennas, receivers, and wireless links

Final outcome¶

Complete an RF design or simulation with matching, link budget, antenna/channel models, and regulatory checks.

Stages¶

Fields and transmission lines¶

Selection rule: Complete all 4 required courses; use the other 1 option only to close a specific gap.

• Multivariable Calculus — Required; MIT; Mainline; S
• Differential Equations — Required; MIT; Mainline; S
• Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism with an Experimental Focus — Required; MIT; Mainline; A
• Electromagnetic Fields and Waves — Required; Cornell University; Mainline; S
• Electromagnetics and Applications — Optional supplement; MIT; Mainline; S

Stage exit criterion: Build analytical and numerical models of a transmission line or waveguide and complete a convergence study at three or more mesh resolutions; propagation-constant deviation must stay below 3% and port power-balance residual below 5%.

RF circuits and antennas¶

Selection rule: Complete all 1 required course and choose 1 of 2 elective options. The other course is an optional supplement and does not count toward the elective requirement.

• Radio Frequency Systems — Elective option; Cornell University; Alternative; A
• RF and Millimeter-Wave Circuit Design — Required; Eindhoven University of Technology; Mainline; A
• Analysis and Design Principles of Microwave Antennas — Optional supplement; IIT Kharagpur / NPTEL; Mainline; A; Audit review
• Receivers, Antennas, and Signals — Elective option; MIT; Supplement; B

Stage exit criterion: Complete a matching-network, RF-front-end, or antenna design that achieves S11 below -10 dB across the declared band, or a justified equivalent target, and submit gain, noise, and stability budgets.

Wireless systems¶

Selection rule: Complete all 1 required course and choose 1 of 3 elective options.

• Principles of Digital Communications I — Required; MIT; Mainline; S
• Principles of Wireless Communications — Elective option; MIT; Supplement; B
• Wireless Communications — Elective option; Stanford University; Alternative; A
• Principles of Digital Communications — Elective option; IIT Bombay / NPTEL; Alternative; A

Stage exit criterion: Produce a reproducible link budget and channel simulation with fading and interference, plotting receiver sensitivity against BER or throughput; check frequency, bandwidth, transmit power, and duty cycle against a regulatory checklist for the target region.

Execution rules¶

• Follow each stage's selection rule: complete every required course and the stated number of electives; when complete path options are provided, choose one and finish every course in its listed order; use optional supplements only to close a specific gap.
• Produce at least one reproducible artifact per stage and include failed attempts in the retrospective.
• Work involving mains voltage, high voltage, RF exposure, lasers, chemicals, or fabrication equipment requires local-law compliance and qualified supervision.