Microwave Measurements, 3rd Edition

This book contains most of the lecture notes used during the 14th IET Training Course on Microwave Measurements in May 2005 and is intended for use at the next course in 2007. These courses began in 1970 at the University of Kent with the title ‘RF Electrical Measurements’ and were held subsequently at the University of Surrey (1973) and the University of Lancaster (1976 and 1979). In 1983 the course returned to the University of Kent with the new title ‘Microwave Measurements’. In recent years it has been held appropriately at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington, where the National Microwave Measurement Facilities and Standards are housed. In 1985 and again in 1989, the late A.E. Bailey was the editor of a publication of these notes in book form. This third edition has been jointly edited by myself and A.D. Skinner and includes a large number of new authors since the last edition. Although the book is primarily intended for the course, it has proved popular over the years to anyone starting to measure microwaves.

The book begins with some revision chapters on transmission lines and scattering parameters, and these topics are used in the later chapters. Although these topics were included in most Physics and Electronics degree programmes in 1970, this is not the case now. As a result the reader who is totally unfamiliar with electromagnetic waves is advised to consult one of the many first-rate introductory books beforehand. The uncertainty of measurement is introduced next and this is followed by the techniques for the measurement of attenuation, voltage and noise. Many of these measurements are made using a microwave network analyser, and this remarkable instrument is discussed in the next few chapters. After this, the measurement of power, the use of spectrum analysers and aspects of digital modulation and phase noise measurements are covered in separate chapters. Finally, with the measurement of material properties, and both antenna and free field measurements, the wide range of topics is completed.