Fall semester:

 ECE 6960 – Terahertz Technology

Course Overview
Interactions of terahertz waves with matter. Gaussian beam propagation. Gaussian beam transformations. Refractive and reflective focusing elements. Frequency independent quasi-optical components. Frequency selective quasi-optical components (planar structures and thick structures). Generation and detection of broadband terahertz pulses (pulse propagation in linear and dispersive media, femtosecond lasers, terahertz time domain spectroscopy, photoconductive antennas, optical rectification, free-space electro-optic sampling, ultra broadband terahertz pulses). Continuous wave sources and detectors (photo-mixing, difference frequency generation, frequency multiplication, quantum cascade lasers, thermal detectors, diode detectors). Terahertz systems and applications.
We will also be learning how to solve analytical problems and visualize solutions and concepts in numerical simulations using HFSS.

Course Objectives
In this course, students will obtain:
1. Familiarity with Gaussian beam propagation.
2. Ability to understand and simulate the frequency response of quasi-optical components.
3. Understanding of the terahertz response of materials including their physical origin.
4. Familiarity with mechanisms of generation and detection of terahertz waves.
5. Ability to use HFSS in the solution of problems, design of structures, and visualization of their response.

Spring semester:

 ECE 6310 – Advanced Electromagnetic Fields

Course Overview
Review of Maxwell’s macroscopic equations in integral and differential forms including boundary
conditions, power and energy computations, and time-harmonic formulations. Macroscopic-electrical properties of matter. Oblique incidence plane-wave propagation and polarization in multi-layered media. Separation of variable solutions of the wave equation in rectangular, cylindrical and spherical coordinates. Vector potential theory and the construction of solutions using Green’s theorem. Electromagnetic theorems of duality, uniqueness, reciprocity, reaction, and source equivalence. Waveguide, cavity, antenna, and scattering applications in rectangular, cylindrical, and spherical geometries.
We will also be learning how to solve analytical problems and visualize solutions and concepts using Maple, and numerical simulations using HFSS.

Course Objectives
In this course, students will obtain:
1. Familiarity with Maxwell’s macroscopic equations in integral and differential form.
2. Ability to formulate and solve well-posed electromagnetic boundary value problems in the standard coordinate systems.
3. Understanding of the electromagnetic response of materials including their physical origin.
4. Familiarity with some standard solutions for waveguides, cavities and antennas.
5. Ability to use Maple in the symbolic solution of problems, and visualize their solutions.