Postgraduate research opportunities Sideband Suppression on High Power Microwave Antenna

The project will contribute to a major Ministry of Defence (MoD) research programme intended to develop generation after next technologies for applications in defence and security, and this project will be co-funded by Teledyne e2v.

The project will be concerned with the management of antenna sidelobes for applications in high power microwave systems. High power microwave transmitters increasingly are required to operate in complex environments where other nearby electronics, typically operating at much lower power levels, may be subject to undesirable interference. All antenna will form sidelobes, undesired secondary beams typically at rather lower power than the primary beam, but potentially still of moderate absolute power. Since these beams may make quite large angles to the intended primary beam, there is risk of problematic exposure to relatively nearby components. The project will explore schemes to mitigate these secondary signals.

The main objectives of this project are: 

• Investigation of options to minimise sidelobes in high power antenna
• Whilst maintaining high gain for primary beam: initially focussing on variation of slot type antenna, extending to a range of alternative antenna schemes. Exploit advanced simulation techniques to predict antenna patterns, including near, intermediate and far field. Undertake experiments to verify the predications using facilities at the University or at the project partner Teledyne-e2V
• The student will develop a range of transferrable skills in ‘in demand’ areas including numerical simulation and experimental techniques

The PhD candidate to undertake this project will be part of a new MoD/EPSRC Energy Transfer Technology Skills and Training (S&T) Hub. The main aim of the S&T Hub is to train the next generation of leaders in energy transfer technologies relevant for defence and other related applications. The Hub is supported by MoD, Dstl, and UK companies working in the defence and security sector.

Each student funded by the Hub will have an industrial partner and have opportunities to work with and train alongside experts from industry. The Hub offers individual’s training for both a research and an industrial career path.

The student will be based at the University of Strathclyde but will be part of cohort of 12 PhD students across a number of UK institutions. The Skills and Training Hub will run online and face-to-face activities to facilitate cohort building and group learning exercises throughout the PhD programme. The duration of the PhD is 4 years, and the start date is 1st October 2023.

The PhD student will be physically located in the Atoms Beams and Plasmas Group in the Physics Department at the University of Strathclyde.

The industrial partner, Teledyne-e2v, is a major international company with interests in high power Microwave and RF systems, Power and Systems Engineering. The partner will provide PhD supervision, a placement and be part of the larger STH community benefiting in the diverse academic and industrial network offered by the STH.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

The S&T Hub is committed to providing an inclusive environment in which diverse students can thrive. The Hub particularly encourages applications from women, disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, who are currently under-represented in the sector.  We can also consider part-time PhD students.  We also encourage talented individuals from various backgrounds, with either an UG or MSc in a numerate subject and people with ambition and an interest in making a difference. 

Further information

We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisor for this project before you apply. Prof. Kevin Ronald: K.Ronald@strath.ac.uk. There may be some flexibility in the deadline, and it would be good to discuss in advance with any student who is considering part time study.