Speaking with numbers: scientific literacy and public understanding of science

Public understanding of science and scientific literacy is discussed. Scientific method, scientific process and scientific filter are reviewed accordingly. Basic terms of measurement and numerical calculation are outlined. Finally, fundamental requirements of scientific literacy and critical response skills are presented

Sky and ground - wave high frequency (HF) radars: challenges in modelling, simulation and application preface

Radar systems operating at high frequency (HF) are able to exploit a variety of propagation mechanisms to achieve line-of-sight (LOS) illumination as well as over-the-horizon coverage, thereby providing many opportunities for long range, wide area multi-sensor surveillance. The purpose of this special issue is to bring together latest research results on physical understanding, mathematical modelling, numerical simulation, and novel application challenges (e.g., tsunami detection) in the field of sky- and ground-wave HF radars. The challenges include understanding complex radar echo, environmental noise, sea/land/ionospheric clutter, sky- and ground-wave propagation; mechanisms, radar cross-section (RCS) in the resonance regime, frequency monitoring in highly crowded spectrum, antenna design and beam-forming, beam-steering, detection, tracking, classification, and identification algorithm development, dataand sensor-fusion, etc. This special issue is devoted to these topics

Electromagnetic compatibility engineering education: problems, challenges and perspectives

Education and training problems and challenges in EMC Engineering are discussed. The necessity of physics-based modeling (theory) and hands-on training (practice) are emphasized. An introductory level EMC lecture and a short course outline are given for modern EMC education

From engineering electromagnetics towards electromagnetic engineering: issues, chalanges and applications - preface

Special issue dedicated to the 75th birthday of Raj MITTRA.Nowadays, electromagnetics (EM) is everywhere! Although the contents of the two basic EM lectures – Field Theory and Wave Theory – have stayed almost unchanged for the last couple of decades we have witnessed the transformation from engineering EM to EM engineering for some time. Therefore, addressing technical challenges posed by electrical, electronics, communication, and computer system complexities requires a broad range of innovative, multi-disciplinary analytical and computational skills that are not adequately covered in conventional EM engineering curricula. EM engineering community, therefore, must be prepared to adapt to frequent shifts in technological priorities and rapid scientific advances, followed by rapid advances in technologies. [...

A critical review on electromagnetic precursors and earthquake prediction

Seismo-electromagnetic precursory-based earthquake prediction studies are criticized in terms of their scientific content, problem complexity, signal excitation and propagation, causal relations with earthquakes, and public awareness and expectations. One aim is to trigger a new debate on this hot topic in the Electromagnetic Society

A review of discrete solutions of poisson, laplace, and wave equations

Sevgi, Levent (Dogus Author)One- and two-dimensional discrete solutions of Poisson, Laplace, and wave equations are given in this tutorial. The terms wave propagation and numerical propagation are discussed. Simple MATLAB scripts are also supplied.IEEE Antennas and Propagation Societ

Propagation modeling and path loss prediction tools for high frequency surface wave radars

Propagation modeling and simulation approaches for the use of High Frequency Surface Wave Radar (HFSWR) are discussed. HFSWR uses vertically polarized surface waves along multi-mixed paths in the lower HF band (3 MHz - 15 MHz). Various numerical propagators are reviewed with an early analytical model. Split Step Fast Fourier Transformation, finite- difference, and finite-element solutions of the well-known one-way, forward propagation Parabolic Equation (PE) model are presented. MATLAB-based numerical propagation prediction tools based on these models are listed. Tests and comparisons among these analytical and numerical tools are given for some canonical surface wave propagation scenarios. The Millington effect for both smooth and irregular terrain paths, which contain land-sea and sea-land transitions, is also discussed

A Matlab-Based virtual propagation tool: surface wave mixed-path calculator

A new Matlab-Based, user-friendly virtual propagation tool (VPT) that can be used for multi-mixed path surface wave path loss calculations has been designed. Any multi-mixed-path surface wave propagation scenario may be specified by the user together with all the necessary input parameters, and path loss vs. range plots may be produced. The effects of multi-mixed paths, electrical parameters of each propagation section, as well as the frequency can be observed and extra path losses can be predicted. The VPT can be used both for design and training purposes.Electromagnet Acad; IEEE Geosci & Remote Sensing Soc; MIT Lincoln Lab; Off Naval Res; Mitsubishi Elect Corp; Cold Reg Res & Engn Lab; Electromagnet Acad Zhejiang Univ; MIT Ctr Electromagnet Theory & Applicat, Res Lab Elect

Radar cross-section (RCS) analysis of high frequency surface wave radar targets

Realistic high frequency surface wave radar (HFSWR) targets are investigated numerically in terms of electromagnetic wave - target interactions. Radar cross sections (RCS) of these targets are simulated via both the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method and the Method of Moments (MoM). The virtual RCS prediction tool that was introduced in previous work is used for these investigations. The virtual tool automatically creates the discrete FDTD model of the target under investigation and performs the FDTD RCS analysis. It also automatically constructs a MoM wire grid model of the target; therefore, it is also possible to compare FDTD results against the MoM-based NEC (Numerical Electromagnetic Code) data. Bi-static RCS patterns under a variety of illuminations over the whole HF band (3-30 MHz) are presented. The mono-static RCS vs. frequency of these targets is also given

An intelligent balance

This paper discusses the intelligent balance, which has been established between real and virtual experiments and it also gives skills that have not covered in conventional electronics and communication engineering. Engineering is the art of applying scientific and mathematical principles, experience, judgment and common sense to make things that benefit people. The explosive growth of computer capabilities and easy access to nanominiature devices has revolutionized communication and the analysis of complex systems. The EC engineer either individually or as a member of a team, can play an important role in this technical diverse mosaic and this community prepares to adapt frequency shifts in technical priorities. EC engineers should be given computers hand-on-practice and training and also should understand the physics of the problem and fundamental theorem.IEE