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ECEN 5264 - Electromagnetic Absorption, Scattering and Propagation

Catalog Data ECEN 5264 (3). Electromagnetic Absorption, Scattering and Propagation Electromagnetic waves in communication, navigation, and remote sensing systems from radio to optical frequencies, including propagation in deterministic and random media. Topics include absorption and refraction by gases, discrete scattering by precipitation, clouds, and aerosols, continuous scattering by refractivity fluctuations, earth-space propagation and Faraday rotation in plasmas, and radiative transfer theory.
Credits and Design 3 credit hours. Elective course.
Textbook Propagation Effects on Satellite Systems for Frequencies below 10 GHz, NASA Ref. Publ. 1108(2), W.L. Flock

Earth-Satellite Propagation, J.E. Alnutt.

Course Objectives To develop an understanding of the basic physical processes involved in earth-space propagation and to introduce students to theresearch and development taking place and the literature being produced in the field, particularly in applied propagation aspects.
Topics Covered
  1. Telecommunication link power budgets
  2. Ionospheric effects proportional to total electron content (range delay, Faraday rotation, etc.) and ionospheric scintillation.
  3. Tropospheric clear-air effects: refraction, fading and scintillation excess range delay due to dry air and water vapor, gaseous absorption.
  4. Attenation, cross polarization, scatter, and noise due to rain at microwave and millimeter-wave frequencies.
  5. Effects of small particles and biological matter (clouds and vegetation)
  6. Multipath effects on satellite land-, sea-, and aeronautical-mobile systems. Antimultipath techniques, spread-spectrum systems, and the GPS (global positioning system)
  7. Radio noise: system noise temperature, noise of atmospheric origin, extraterrestrial noise.
  8. Propagation effects on interference, coordination area.
  9. Space-communications systems design.
  10. Radio science and telecommunications for deep-space missions.
