Course Catalogue

MSc SIS Edinburgh Course - Radio Frequency (RF) and Microwave Circuits and Systems PHYS5095

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: School of Physics and Astronomy
  • Credits: 10
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

Week 1 Advanced Transmission Line Concepts :

reflections, terminated lines, quarter-wave transformer, generator/load mismatches, conjugate matching, linearity, transients on transmission lines, bounce diagrams

 

Weeks 2 and 3 RF/Microwave Waveguides :

metallic waveguides, parallel-plate waveguides, substrate integrated waveguide, surface waves, circular waveguides, microstrip, stripline, co-planar waveguides, transverse resonance technique

 

Week 4 Network Analysis for Passive and Active Systems :

impedance and admittance matrices, reciprocal and lossless networks, the scattering matrix, reference planes; signal flow graphs, the transmission ABCD matrix, equivalent circuits for two-port networks, transformations, 2-port and N-port networks

 

Weeks 5 and 6 Advanced Smith Chart and Matching Circuits :

the complete Smith Chart, impedance, admittance, lambda/4 transformers, matching circuits, single-stub and double-stub matching systems

 

Weeks 7 and 8 Passive Circuits and RF/Microwave Filters :

design of couplers and power dividers, hybrids, T-junctions, advanced topologies for increased bandwidth and un-equal power split, filter design and system analysis, specifications, high-pass, low-pass, band-pass, notch, filter dispersion and group delay, and transformations

 

Weeks 9 & 10 Active RF Circuits and RF/Microwave Systems :

advanced RF/microwave amplifier design and analysis, circuit and RF system noise, noise figure, low noise amplifiers, RF models for diodes and transistors, oscillator design (passive and active), negative resistance, RF envelope detectors, rectifiers, and frequency conversion circuit design for RF/microwave systems; considerations for integrated circuit (IC) implementation technologies such as Gallium Nitride and CMOS

Timetable

Timetable not known (at U of Edinburgh)

 

Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 22, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 11, Online Activities 1, Revision Session Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 62 )

Requirements of Entry

Enrolment on Sensor & Imaging Systems MSc programme

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Not available: see http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/current/dpt/cxpgee11237.htm

Course Aims

On completion of this course, the student will be able to:

To develop knowledge and advanced design skills in radio frequency (RF) engineering, which are essential for many applications such as radar and communications. Advance knowledge relating to the solution of electromagnetic wave propagation as it applies to different RF waveguides, whilst further developing concepts of microwave networks and matching, wave scattering techniques, and their application to passive and active RF/microwave circuits and devices for radar and communication systems.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

- have a detailed understanding of the solution of electromagnetic waves for propagation within RF transmission lines and waveguides, with practical application to different technologies;

- critically analyse modal behaviour of RF/microwave waveguides, including dispersion, impedance, modal solutions, and power flow;

- have an advanced knowledge of wave scattering in RF/microwave devices, admittance/impedance matrices, scattering parameters with application to networks and systems;

- understand the physical layer and physics behind radar systems and telecommunications networks, including wired and wireless communications;

- design passive and active RF/microwave circuits for optimal matching, filtering, power dividing/combining, amplification, frequency generation, frequency conversion, etc. whilst using engineering principles and considering system parameters such as noise and device linearity as well as select for different RFIC technologies and/or printed circuit board (PCB) technologies.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions