The September issue of the IEEE Microwave Magazine is out! This issue features the second part of our special on electromagnetic modeling and optimization. Computers have had a game changing impact on the design and implementation of microwave antennas, filter structures and integrated circuits. Not to mention creating dedicated research departments at many universities.

So this month our features cover a lot of ground with automated component model generation, machine learning, intelligent surfaces and some basic coupling matrix optimization. Our personal computers today are over 10,000 times more computationally capable than a Cray-1 supercomputer. And that has enabled field solver programs to help us design filters and antennas. But re-simulating a structure for small changes can eat up a lot of time unless we parameterize the parts of our filter and that is where automation and our first feature takes us. Cell phones and WiFi have changed our world and the antennas around us. These days antennas as smart and frequency selective surfaces are enabling less expensive and more versatile communications and radar as discussed in our next two features. Our final feature covers coupled matrix multiplexer optimization that has had amazing advances because of computers.

Now we get into our columns. Check out the Editor’s Desk for the real overview of the issue. Next you should check out our President’s Column and find out how we are truly international and connect people through technology. Our MTT Society News has news from our controls committee. What do you know about spin-wave devices? And our Around the Globe column is all about broadening participation in Africa. What do antennas and microwaves have to do with a sustainable future? Find the answers in our Conference Report column. Our society depends on academia and industry. Find out how the IEEE bridges this gap in our MGA News column. Women are changing things in our society. Find out how in the latest Women in Microwaves column. Our MTT-S Ombudsman officer has been busy and in this month’s column he answers questions and solves problems for members. Sadly I must mention another In Memoriam column with this one celebrating the life of internationally influential Dr. Ho Chung Huang. Please learn about the life of another high achiever in our society.

Certainly we all need to keep our minds active. Our MicroBusiness column considers three grandchildren, smart phones and AI. Check out the column and find the connection. New Products are always exciting and this month we have a tour of everything from a passive broadband power divider to oscillators, Modelithics libraries and data recorders. And take the Smith Chart. AI has not killed the Smith Chart (yet) and our Educator’s Corner considers that the Smith Chart is not just a bilinear transformation but geometry as well. Finally our Enigmas, etc. considers an LC matching network and how the LC resonance frequency relates to the frequency of the match. Don’t cheat.

As always, check out the Conference Calendar and have some personal discussions with interesting people.

Summary by
Alfy Riddle, Ph.D.
Quanergy Solutions