Antenna & Microwave Laboratory (AML)

Lab Coordinator: Professor Satish Kumar Sharma

Measuring Instrument in the Antenna Microwave Lab
Diagnostic Equipment in the Antenna Microwave Lab

The lab currently includes an Anechoic Chamber with far-field radiation pattern measurement system (800MHz to 40 GHz), Orbit F/R spectrum analysis program, Vector Network Analyzers (low MHz to 4.5GHz, 40 MHz to 18 GHz, and 40MHz to 40GHz), LPKF CAD milling machine, LPKF via plating system, surface mount component soldering station, various broadband horn antennas and near-field probes, in addition to the full wave analysis simulation tools (such as Ansys HFSS, and CST Microwave Studio, Altair FEKO, TICRA GRASP). Funding support came from the College of Engineering, NSF, and local industries.

A new addition is a mini-compact antenna test range (M-CATR) from 26.5 GHz to 110 GHz.  It includes a Keysight PNA. Funding support came from the DURIP 2016 (ONR), College of Engineering and local industries.

AML is located in the Engineering and Interdisciplinary Sciences Complex in EIS 311. For more information about the lab, please contact Professor Sharma: [email protected].

EE540L

This course familiarizes the students with design, measurement techniques and device characterizations of microwave components and devices using HP 8753B/D, vector network analyzers and some computer software. After basic calibration procedures are covered, the students design microwave circuits including attenuators, filters and impedance matching circuits using surface mount discrete components as well as micro-strip lines. The students simulate the designs with Ansoft Designer, LINC2 or PUFF, after that the circuits are fabricated and tested. The measurement results are compared with simulation data for possible improvements. Group delays and time domain measurements follow. The two design projects include the design, simulation, fabrication and measurements of branchline power dividers, and coupled line band pass filters, etc. The projects are a team effort. Although all students need to design and simulate the device individually, each group of three to four students will meet to decide which design will be actually fabricated and tested. 
This course is built on the knowledge and skills acquired from materials covered in EE310, EE340, EE430, EE450 and EE540. 

Antenna and Microwave Research

Following antenna and microwave research topics/projects are under investigation:

  1. Reconfigurable Antennas and Arrays
  2. Planar Ultra-wide Bandwidth (UWB) Antennas and Arrays
  3. Dielectric Resonator Antennas (DRA) and Arrays
  4. Feeds for Reflector Antennas
  5. Wideband Microstrip Antennas/Arrays
  6. Beam Steering Antennas/Smart Antennas
  7. Radio-Frequency-Identification (RFID) Antennas
  8. Microwave Power Dividers/Couplers/Filters
  9. RF MEMS Phase Shifters
  10. Computational Electromagnetics
  11. Novel Electromagnetic Materials (Metamaterial/Electromagnetic Bandgap Materials) for antenna and microwave applications
  12. Remote Education Antenna Laboratory (REAL): Antenna Kits for teaching undergraduate antenna course

Measurement Instruments, Fabrication Materials, and EM Analysis Tools

Following instruments, fabrication materials, and software are available for antennas and microwave device analysis, simulation, optimization and measurement with the possibility of future expansions:

  1. Anechoic chamber from Orbit/FR.
  2. Antenna Radiation Pattern Measurement System upto 18 GHz from Orbit/FR
  3. Vector Network Analyser upto 40 GHz from Anritsu
  4. CST's Microwave Studios
  5. Test Fixture
  6. Antenna measurement demonstration kits
  7. Power meters, VSWR meters, EMI measurement, and RF Signal Generators
  8. Ansoft HF Lab Package (full wave analysis tools)
  9. LINC2 and PUFF for microwave component analysis
  10. Different substrate materials, wires, and connectors and access to PCB milling machine

Sponsored Research

  • National Science Foundation (NSF) ($400,000.00 as PI), CAREER Award: Novel Reconfigurable Aperture Antennas and Arrays for Compact Multifunctional Antenna Solutions, from August 2009 to July 2014 (Current)
  • NextGen Aeronautics ($200,000.00 as SDSU PI), DARPA SBIR, Phase II program: Platform Independent Omni-Directional Antennas (IODA “YODA”) after invitation from DARPA for two years (Current)
  • NextGen Aeronautics ($28,000.00 as SDSU PI), DARPA SBIR, Phase I program: Platform Independent Omni-Directional Antennas (IODA “YODA”), fromFebruary 2009 to October 2009 (Completed)
  • National Science Foundation (NSF) ($136,844.00 through Statement of Work to Carnegie Mellon University’s PI Prof. D. Stancil and SDSU Co-PI Prof. M. Gupta): Remote Education Antenna Laboratory (REAL). The project was completed from December 2006 to March 2009 duration. (Completed)
  • University Grant Program (UGP) Award ($6,500.00, as PI): Investigations on concentric dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs) and arrays with wide bandwidth for Wireless Communications from January, 2008 to June 2009 (Completed)
  • University Grant Program (UGP) Award ($7,645.00, as PI): Investigations on Compact Microstrip Slot Antenna Configurations for Ultra-wideband (UWB) Wireless Communications from January 2007 to June 2008 (Completed)

Current and Past Members of the AML

  1. Alberto Rodriguez
  2. Nathan Labadie
  1. Alex R. Moody
  2. Ashish Tuteja
  3. Anup Kulkarni
  4. Balamurugan Sanmugam
  5. Dave R. West
  6. Elias Mireless
  7. Josh Patin
  8. Kirthika Nahalingam
  9. Manveer Kaur Brar
  10. Pankaj Dagar
  11. Rahul Bakshi
  12. Shiv K. Varanasi
  13. Tuan Q. Tran
  1. Abhishek Singh (MS, EE)
  2. Anubhava Jain (MS, EE)
  3. Christopher Meagher (MS, EE)
  4. Justin Church (MS, EE)
  5. Kiran K. Thota (M. Eng.)
  6. Nathan Labadie (MS, EE)
  7. Sunil Rajgopal (MS, EE)

Prof. Hong-Goo Cho, Kookmin University

Current and Past Members of the AML

Visiting Professors

  1. Dr. Jia-Chi S. Chieh (May 2018—Dec 2022)
  2. Dr. Sima Noghanian (May 2019—May 2021)
  1. Dr. Sanghamitro Das (Nov 10, 2020—Continue)
  2. Dr. Kaushik Debbarma (Aug 10, 2021—July 31, 2023)
  3. Dr. Krishnamoorthy (Aug 27, 2022—Dec 31, 2022)
  4. Dr. Patrizia Livreri (Nov 15, 2021—Dec 2021)
  5. Dr. Shiv Narayan (Feb 2020—May 2020)
  6. Dr. Sonika Biswal (2019—2020)
  7. Dr. Sima Noghanian (July 2018—Feb 2019)
  8. Dr. Xinhua Yu (Feb 2017—Feb 2018)
  9. Dr. Guangli Yang (July 2016—Sept 2016)
  10. Dr. Biswajit Dwivedy (2015—1 Year)
  11. Dr. Meng Fanji (June 20, 2013—1 Year)
  12. Dr. Runa Kumari (2014—1 Year)
  13. Dr. Kumud Ranjan Jha (Sept 25, 2013—1 Year)
  14. Dr. Yogesh Choukiker (2013—1 Year)
  15. Dr. Santanu K. Behera (One month)
  16. Dr. H.-G. Cho (Aug 2008—1 Year)

Graduate Student Advising

  1. Nhat Truong (Started Fall 2023): Active Phased Array Antennas (SDSU-UCSD JDP)
  2. Benjamin Bradshaw (Started Fall 2020—): Active and Tunable RIS Antennas (CSRC-UCI JDP)
  1. Nathan R. Labadie(Graduated, Spring 2015): A Novel Approach to Beam Steering Using Arrays Composed of Multiple Unique Radiating Modes (SDSU-UCSD JDP)
  2. Behrouz Babakhani (Graduated, Fall 2016): Wideband Frequency Agile Antenna with Simultaneous Polarization Reconfiguration for Beam Steering Array Antenna Applications (CSRC-Claremont JDP)
  3. Ghanshyam Mishra (Graduated, Fall 2020): Analysis, Computation, and Design of Innovative High Gain Feed-Reflector and Beam Steering Antenna Solutions (CSRC-UCI JDP)
  4. Rudraishwarya Banerjee (Graduated, Fall 2023): Flat Panel Phased Array Antennas (CSRC-UCI JDP)
  1. Belinda Nguyen (EE797, Spring 2023—Present): Lens Based Multiple Beam Antennas
  2. Kenneth Sherman (EE797, Fall 2022—Present): 6G Millimeter Wave Antennas
  3. Gabriel Duran (EE797, Fall 2021—Present): Rotman Lens Multiple Beam Antennas
  4. Drasti Tandel (EE797, Spring 2023—Present): Electrically Small Array Antennas
  5. Kevin Tao (EE797, Spring 2023—Present): Millimeter Wave 3D Printed Polarizers
  1. Allen Castro (Spring 2017): Novel Antenna Designs Using 3D Printing and Inkjet Printing Technologies
  2. Anthony Wang (Spring 2017): Frequency Reconfigurable Antennas as Multiple Input Multiple Output Antennas for Portable and Handheld Devices
  3. Abhishek Singh (Fall 2009): Investigations on Wideband Dielectric Resonator Antenna and Arrays on Finite Ground Plane
  4. Alex R. Moody (Spring 2010): Investigations on Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Planar Monopole Antennas with Unidirectional Patterns by Employing Planar and Pyramidal Shaped Reflectors
  5. Anup N. Kulkarni (Spring 2012): Investigation on Compact Internal Antenna Solutions for Future 4G LTE Wireless Devices with MIMO Implementation
  6. Sandhya Krishna (Fall 2018): 5G Millimeter-Wave Technology Based Massive MIMO Base Station and Access Point Designs with 1D Beam Steering Series-Fed Planar Microstrip Patch Array Antennas with Through Element Technology at Ka-Band (27.5 GHz-28.35 GHz)
  7. Anubhava Jain (Spring 2009): Performance of Microstrip Patch Antennas and Arrays on Electromagnetic Bandgap (EBG) Structures
  8. Ashish Tuteja (Spring 2010): Investigations on Dual Band Orthogonally Polarized and Multimode Reconfigurable Corrugated Choke Feed Horn Antennas
  9. Bhakti Joshi (Fall 2014): Design of Multiband Antenna for Portable Devices with MIMO Implementation
  10. Balamurugan Shanmugam (Spring 2012): Investigations and Performance of a Cavity Backed Novel modified Balun Free Archimedean Spiral Antenna and Planar Array Implementation
  11. Christopher Meagher (Fall 2008): Investigations on Wideband Aperture-Coupled Microstrip Patch Antennas and Arrays Employing Spaced Dielectric Covers for Enhanced Gain Performance
  12. Connor Laffey (Spring 2020-Summer 2022): Multiple Mode Antennas for Null Steering (Defended thesis in June 2022)
  13. Daria Lane (Fall 2015): Inkjet Printed Ultra-Wide Bandwidth (UWB) Antenna on Flexible PET Aubstrate Materials for Body Wearable Applications
  14. Dave West (Spring 2014): Frequency Reconfigurable Compact Multiband Quasi-Log Periodic Dipole Array (QLPDA) Antenna for Wireless Communications
  15. Eleonora Tryosi (Exchange Student, Univ of Pavia, Italy, 2010)): Design and Experimental Verification of Frequency Reconfigurable Circularly Polarized Patch Antennas, (Advisors: Prof. Luca Perregrini, and Prof. S. K. Sharma)
  16. Elias Mireles (Fall 2011): Investigations and Design Of UHF (860-960 MHz) Band Novel Reader Antenna and Tag Antenna Mountable on Metallic Objects for Universal RFID Applications
  17. Hao-Lung Chu (Fall 2018): Investigations and Design of Wideband Dual Linear Polarized Massive MIMO Panel Array Antenna for 5G Communication Applications
  18. Henk Visser (Spring 2013): Multiband Microstrip Slot Antenna with Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) Implementation for Handheld Devices
  19. Ila Agnihotri (Spring 2020): Millimeter Wave 3D Printed Waveguide Polarizer and Feedhorn Antennas
  20. Jennifer Taylor Rayno (Summer 2012): Design and Analysis of Frequency Reconfigurable Compact Spirograph Planar Monopole Antenna (SPMA) Elements for a Beam Scanning Array
  21. Joshua Patin (Spring 2011): Design and Analysis of a Compact Dielectric Resonator Circularly Polarized Antenna and Four Resonator Bandpass Filter at Ku-Band for Satellite Communications Applications
  22. Joseph Tallo (Spring 2023): Butler Matrix Multiple Beam Antenna
  23. Justin Church (Fall 2009): Investigations on the Sierpinski Fractal Microstrip Antenna for Wideband Radiation Performance by Employing Novel Feed Mechanisms
  24. Kirthika Nahalingam (Spring 2011): A Comparison of Omni-Directional Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Microstrip Pentagon Slot and Directional Wideband ψ-Shape Microstrip Patch Antennas for the Microwave Detection of Breast Tumors
  25. Manveer K. Brar (Fall 2011): Investigations on Aperture Coupled Pentagon Shape Dielectric Resonator Antennas and Arrays with Wideband and Multiband Responses for Wireless Communications
  26. Mehak Garg (Summer 2012): Performance of a Cylindrical Dielectric Resonator Antenna with Controllable Wideband and Monopole Like Omni-Directional Radiation Patterns and Beam Focusing Properties of Circular Array Implementation
  27. Mohana Vamsi Komandla (Spring 2017): Investigations on High Impedance Surface (HIS) Based Pattern Reconfigurable Antenna and Cavity Backed Dual Slant Polarized Massive MIMO Antenna with Beamforming
  28. Mukund Thyagarajan (Fall 2012): Performance of Reflector Antennas by Employing Triple Mode Feedhorn and a Frequency Reconfigurable Spiral Loaded Planar Dipole Antenna
  29. Nathan R. Labadie (Fall 2009): Investigations on Novel Volumetric Metamaterial Structures at Microwave Frequencies for Antenna Applications
  30. Ningning Luo (Fall 2019): Exchange Student, School of Information and Communication, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, China: One year duration): Millimeter Wave Dual Circular Polarized Feedhorn Antenna
  31. Nhat Truong (Fall 2023): Miniaturized Antenna and Triple Mode Feedhorn
  32. Omar Flores, (Summer 2019): Low Noise Amplifier RFIC Design Using SiGe
  33. Pankaj Dagar (Fall 2013): Compact Wide-Bandpass Filters Implemented Using Defected Ground Planes
  34. Phil Tran (Spring 2016): An Archimedean Spiral Antenna with Dielectric Loading Providing Directional Radiation Patterns Using a Novel Shape 3D Printed Ground Structures
  35. Rafid Damman (Spring 2016): Design of Frequency Tunable Compact Antenna and Millimeter to Terahertz Array Antennas
  36. Rahul Bakshi (Summer 2010): Investigations on Frequency Agile Behavior of Narrowband and Wideband Microstrip Patch Antennas by Employing Variable Height Ground Planes
  37. Roshin Rose George (Summer 2017): Wideband Circularly Polarized High Gain Fixed and Steered Beam Antennas at Ku-band and Feed Horn at Millimeter Wave Frequencies
  38. Ryan Bartsch (Spring 2017): Design and Development of Reconfigurable Multi-Element Microstrip Frequency Agile Antenna Array
  39. Shiv K. Varanasi (Fall 2010): Investigations on Cavity Backed Microstrip Patch Antennas with Enhanced Performance for Wireless Communication Applications
  40. Sunil Rajgopal (Spring 2008): Ultra-Wideband Pentagon Shape Planar Microstrip Slot Antenna and Array for Wireless Communications
  41. Tavis Hall (Spring 2016): Modified PIFA Antennas with Single and Dual Bands for MIMO Implementations on Cylindrical Ground Plane
  42. Treasa Hlaing (Fall 2014): Novel Multiband Annular Ring Aperture Coupled Microstrip Patch Antennas In MIMO Implementation for Wireless Routers
  43. Tuan Q. Tran (Fall 2010): Performance of Single Layer Multimode Concentric Circular Microstrip Patch Antenna for Reconfigurable Radiation Patterns
  1. Amar Lingineni (Spring 2010): Effective Technical and Management Planning for Implementing WiMAX
  2. Anusha Kalikonda (Summer 2013): Body Wearable Antennas: Investigations of Wideband Microstrip E-shape Patch Array Antenna on Curved Surfaces
  3. Jason Thomas (Fall 2011): Design of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) System in the 430MHz Band for Soccer Goal Line Situations
  4. Kiran Thota (Fall 2008): Impact of RFID’s in Theft Prevention for Retail Industry
  5. Samer Hamade (Spring 2015): Microstrip Array Antennas with Circular Polarization for Ku-Band Trasmit/Receive Communications

Undergraduate Students

  1. Brandon Marshall (May 2022—May 2023): Luneburg Lens Antennas
  2. Helena Clavin (May 2021—Dec 2022): Vivaldi Antennas
  3. Nhat Truong (Mar 2020—Aug 2021): Planar Array Antennas
  4. Andrew Valdivia (May 2020—Dec 2020): Wideband Antennas
  5. Mark Navarro (May 2019—Dec 2019): Multiband Antennas
  6. Rasha Shayya (May 2019—Jul 2019): 3D Printed Antennas
  7. Nicholas Farrela (Jun 2019—Dec 2019): Multiband RF Microwave Filters
  8. Dane Fairchild (Oct 2018—May 2019): 5G Communication Antennas and Beamforming
  9. Philip T. Ngyuen (Jun 2018—May 2019): Waveguide Polarizers and Beamforming Networks
  10. Tommy Khoury (Jun 2018—May 2019): Miniaturized Antennas and Antenna Integration Issues
  11. Connor Laffey (Jun 2018—Aug 2018): 3D Printed Array Antennas
  12. Layth Hozi (Jun—Aug 2017): Rectangular Patch Antenna Simulation, Fabrication and Measurements
  13. Alejandro "Allen" Castro (Fall, 2012—Aug 2015): Ultra-Wide Bandwidth (UWB) Planar Monopole Antennas
  14. Arturo Morales (Summer and Fall 2009): Microstrip Antenna for Breast Cancer Detection
  15. Danierick Gomes (Exchange student from Brazil: Jun 2015—Aug 2015): Substrate Integrated Horn Antennas
  16. Margie Ramos (Summer and Fall 2009): Microstrip Antenna for Breast Cancer Detection
  17. Michael Hlavaty (Summer 2011): Printed Antenna for Portable Devices
  18. Treasa Hlaing (Summer and Fall 2010): Wideband and Ultra-Wideband Antennas for Breast Cancer Detection
  19. Rafid Damman (Summer, Fall 2011 and Spring 2012): Linear Microstrip Array Antenna with Wide Bandwidth for Beam Scan Performance
  20. Sean Fernandez (Spring, Summer, Fall 2012, and Spring 2013): Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) Multiband Planar Antennas for Wireless Routers
  21. Felipe Fideles (Exchange student from Brazil: Summer and Fall 2012): Radiation Pattern Reconfigurable Planar Yagi-Uda Antenna
  22. Christian Rempel (Exchange student from Brazil: Summer 2012): Wideband Beam Steering Antennas
  23. Jack Powell (Summer 2013—Fall 2013): Effect of Via and Metal Conductivities on Multiple Radiating Modes Microstrip Patch Antennas

Student Awards

  1. 2023 USNC-URSI Travel Fellowship Grant Award, Boulder Colorado (Virtual): Rudraishwarya Banerjee
  2. 2022 IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology: Rudraishwarya Banerjee, SPC Finalist Student
  3. 2021 Hewlett-Packard Award, ACSESS, SDSU: Rudraishwarya Banerjee
  4. 2020 IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society’s Honorable Mention Award, Student Paper Contest (SPC): Ghanshyam Mishra
  5. 2020 Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society (ACES)’s Student Paper Finalist: Sonika Biswal and Ghanshyam Mishra
  6. 2019-2020 IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society Doctoral Research Grant: Ghanshyam Mishra
  7. 2019 EMTS Young Scientist Award: Ghanshyam Mishra
  8. 2019 California State University Chancellor’s Awards: Ghanshyam Mishra
  9. 2019 USNC-URSI Travel Fellowship Grant Award, Boulder Colorado, USA: Ghanshyam Mishra
  10. 2019/2020 University Graduate Fellowship, SDSU: Rudraishwarya Banerjee
  11. 2018/2019 University Graduate Fellowship, SDSU: Ghanshyam Mishra and Ila Agnihotri
  12. 2018 Tioga Research Award for Outstanding Poster and Oral Presentation, ACSESS 2018, San Diego: Ghanshyam Mishra
  13. 2017 Director’s Award for Outstanding Poster and Presentation, ACSESS 2017, San Diego: Ghanshyam Mishra
  14. 2017 USNC-URSI Travel Fellowship Grant Award, Boulder Colorado, USA: Roshin R. George
  15. 2016 IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society, Student Paper Contest, Honorable Mention Award, Puerto Rico, USA: Behrouz Babakhani
  16. 2016 USNC-URSI Travel Fellowship Grant Award, Boulder, Colorado, USA: Alejandro Castro
  17. 2016 USNC-URSI Student Travel Awards, IEEE APS-URSI Symposium, Vancouver, Canada: Behrouz Babakhani
  18. 2015 EEE Antenna and Propagation-Society Harold A. Wheeler Prize Paper Award: (N. Labadie, S. K. Sharma, and G. Rebeiz, “A Circularly Polarized Multiple Radiating Modes Microstrip Antenna with Beam Peak and Null Steering Satellite Receive Applications”, IEEE Trans Antennas and Propagation, USA, Vol. 62, No. 7, July 2014, pp. 3490-3500)
  19. 2014 Los Alamos award for Outstanding Poster and Presentation, ACSESS 2014, San Diego: Behrouz Babakhani
  20. 2012 Student Paper Finalist and Young Scientist Travel Grant, IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation, Nagoya, Japan: Nathan Labadie
  21. 2011 Student Paper Contest (SPC) Finalists (based on double blind review), IEEE International Antennas & Propagation Society Symposium and USNC/URSI National Radio Science Meeting to be held from July 3-8, 2011, Spokane, WA, USA: Balamurugan Shanmugam
  22. 2011 College of Engineering, The Dean's Award in Student Research Symposium: Nathan Labadie
  23. CLASTECH 2010: K. Nahalingam, A. Kulkarni, and E. Mireles (Jointly 1st Prize)
  24. 2009 College of Engineering, The Dean's Award in Student Research Symposium: Alex R. Moody
  25. CLASTECH 2009, Nathan Labadie, 1st Prize
  26. CLASTECH 2008, Christopher Meagher, 2nd Prize
  27. 2008 College of Engineering, The Dean's Award in Student Research Symposium: Christopher Meagher
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