Antennas
Antennas are specialized devices used for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves, primarily in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum. They convert electrical energy into radio waves (for transmission) and vice versa (for reception). Antennas play a crucial role in various communication systems, including radio, television, mobile phones, Wi-Fi, and radar.
Electromagnetic compatibility
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) refers to the ability of electronic devices and systems to function properly in their electromagnetic environment without causing or experiencing interference. It encompasses two primary aspects: 1. **Emissions:** This aspect deals with how much electromagnetic energy (in the form of noise or interference) a device emits into the environment. Devices must comply with regulations that limit the amount of electromagnetic interference (EMI) they can generate to avoid disrupting other electronic devices.
Electromagnetic radiation meters, often referred to as EMF (Electromagnetic Field) meters, are devices used to measure electromagnetic radiation levels in the environment. These meters can detect various types of electromagnetic fields, which can originate from natural sources like the sun, as well as from man-made sources, such as electrical appliances, radio transmitters, and power lines.
Electromagnetic spectrum
The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all types of electromagnetic radiation, which varies in wavelength and frequency. Electromagnetic radiation is generated by the movement of charged particles and travels through space at the speed of light. The spectrum categorizes electromagnetic waves into different types based on their wavelength and frequency, and it encompasses a wide variety of phenomena.
Polarization (waves)
Polarization refers to the orientation of the oscillations of a wave, particularly in the context of electromagnetic waves, such as light. In simple terms, polarization describes the direction in which the electric field vector of a light wave oscillates. Here are some key points to understand about polarization: 1. **Types of Polarization**: - **Linear Polarization**: The electric field oscillates in a single plane along the direction of wave propagation.
Radar stations
Radar stations are facilities that use radar technology to detect and track objects at various distances. The term "radar" stands for "Radio Detection and Ranging." Radar systems emit radio waves and analyze the signals that bounce back from objects, allowing operators to determine the distance, speed, and direction of the detected objects.
Radio
Radio is a technology that uses radio waves to transmit and receive information, typically audio content. It operates by encoding sound into electromagnetic waves, which can travel through the air over varying distances. Here's a breakdown of its key components and functions: 1. **Transmission**: Radio transmitters convert audio signals into radio waves and broadcast them through an antenna. These signals can be amplitude modulated (AM) or frequency modulated (FM), allowing for different qualities of sound and range.
Radio frequency propagation
Radio frequency propagation refers to the behavior of radio waves as they travel through the environment from a transmission source to a receiver. Understanding radio frequency propagation is essential for various applications, including telecommunications, broadcasting, satellite communications, and wireless networking. Key factors influencing radio frequency propagation include: 1. **Frequency:** Different frequencies behave differently in terms of how well they can penetrate obstacles, reflect off surfaces, or diffract around edges.
Aberration (astronomy)
Aberration in astronomy refers to the apparent shift in the position of celestial objects due to the motion of the Earth and the finite speed of light. This phenomenon occurs because the light from stars and other astronomical objects takes time to reach us, and as the Earth moves in its orbit around the Sun, the position from which we observe these lights changes.
Absorption in the context of electromagnetic radiation refers to the process by which a material takes in energy from electromagnetic waves, transforming the energy into other forms, such as heat. This interaction occurs when the frequency of the electromagnetic radiation matches the vibrational, rotational, or electronic energy levels of the material's atoms or molecules, allowing the material to absorb photons of that specific energy.
Absorption edge
An absorption edge is a specific wavelength or energy level at which a material starts to absorb photons, leading to a significant increase in absorption coefficient. It typically occurs in materials such as semiconductors, insulators, and certain elemental or compound materials. The absorption edge is significant in various contexts: 1. **Semiconductors**: In semiconductors, the absorption edge corresponds to the energy gap (bandgap) between the valence band and the conduction band.
Absorption spectroscopy
Absorption spectroscopy is an analytical technique used to measure the concentration of a substance in a sample by detecting the light absorbed by that substance when it is exposed to a specific wavelength range. The technique is based on the principle that different molecules absorb light at specific wavelengths, resulting in a characteristic absorption spectrum. Here's a more detailed breakdown of the process: 1. **Sample Interaction**: A light source emits light that passes through a sample containing the substance of interest.
Actinism
Actinism refers to the property of certain forms of radiation, particularly ultraviolet light, to produce chemical changes or effects, such as the ability to cause photochemical reactions. This term is often associated with the photochemical effect of light, especially in relation to the processes of photosynthesis, the formation of Vitamin D in the skin, and the bleaching of substances like dyes or paper.
Albedo
Albedo is a measure of the reflective quality of a surface, defined as the fraction or percentage of incident light or radiation that is reflected off a surface without being absorbed. It is commonly used in various fields such as astronomy, climatology, and environmental science to describe how much sunlight or radiation is reflected by a planet, moon, or other celestial bodies, as well as by terrestrial surfaces like water bodies, forests, deserts, and urban areas.
Anechoic chamber
An anechoic chamber is a specially designed room that is engineered to be free from echoes and external sound interference. The primary purpose of an anechoic chamber is to create an environment where sound can be measured accurately, or where sound experiments can be conducted without outside noise affecting the results.
Appleton–Hartree equation
The Appleton–Hartree equation is a fundamental equation in ionospheric physics that describes the behavior of radio waves in a plasma, particularly in the ionosphere. It relates the refractive index of a plasma to various parameters such as the electron density, the frequency of the radio wave, and the Earth's magnetic field. The equation is commonly used to understand how radio waves propagate through the ionosphere, which is a region of the atmosphere that is ionized by solar radiation.
Atmospheric duct
An atmospheric duct, or simply a duct in the context of atmospheric science, refers to a phenomenon where certain layers of the atmosphere can guide radio waves, sound, or even pollution over long distances. This occurs due to variations in temperature, humidity, and wind patterns, which can create favorable conditions for the bending or "ducting" of waves through the atmosphere.
Back scattering alignment
Back scattering alignment generally refers to techniques used in various fields such as optics, telecommunications, and radar. However, it can often be seen in contexts like wireless communication and network design. In the context of wireless communications, back scattering alignment could relate to methods for ensuring that signals reflected or scattered back toward a source maintain coherence and alignment for optimal reception. This may involve manipulating the physical medium or the properties of the transmitting and receiving equipment to maximize the efficiency of the signal.
Beer–Lambert law
The Beer–Lambert law, also known as Beer's law, is a fundamental relationship in chemistry that describes how the absorption of light by a substance varies with the concentration of the substance and the path length of the light through the material. It is widely used in various applications, such as spectroscopy and analytical chemistry.
Bi-hemispherical reflectance
Bi-hemispherical reflectance is a measure of how much light is reflected by a surface when illuminated from all directions over a hemisphere and then measured from another hemisphere. It is typically expressed as a ratio or percentage of the incident light that is reflected. In more detail: - **Bi-hemispherical** refers to the two hemispheres involved in the measurement: the hemisphere from which light is incident and the hemisphere from which the reflected light is measured.