Research and Innovation Prototyping and Measuring EM Simulation and Optimization
The mission To teach and promote creative research in modern electromagnetics, antennas, sensors and microwave power applications by addressing the needs of industry, government agencies and scientific community
Facilities LAM is equipped with ANA (Automatic Network Analyzer), MW/RF sources, amplifiers, power meters and sensors, oscilloscopes and standard electronic equipments. The most advanced EM and MW circuit simulators (FEKO, ENSEMBLE, CST, MW OFFICE, ADS, Proprietary EM CAD Framework) are used for the design and optimization. A small anechoic chamber dedicated to teaching and research activities occupies one part of the Lab. Microwave circuits and planar passive/active antenna prototypes are fabricated using a computer controlled milling machine.
National and international collaborations ASI (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana) and ESA (European Space Agency) Planar antennas and conformal arrays for space applications Universities of Siena and Messina Antennas, Radar systems and Periodic Band-gap Structures IFA (Istituto di Fisica Applicata, CNR) EM modelling of composite materials and dielectric spectroscopy Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, NH, USA Interstitial applicators for tissue thermal ablation (surgery) Laboratoire d Electromagnetique, Université de Nice-Antipolis, France Wideband antennas and sensors for GPR applications Radiation Oncology Department, University of California at San Francisco, USA Planar applicators for breast cancer therapy
Industrial collaborations Galileo Avionica Spa polarization agile radar antennas Contraves Spa PLL MMW sources (95 GHz) and wet antenna modelling ASK Industries Spa automotive antennas Compel Spa MMW planar arrays for LMDS systems Centro Laser Spa microwave sensors for industrial applications Cristini Spa microwave sensors for felt moisture monitoring Saima Spa microwave and MMW imaging Colorobbia Spa microwave ovens for high-temperature ceramic/nanoparticles sintering
Microwave antenna research topics Research activity covers topics addressing both radar and communications applications SAR planar polarization agile arrays Conformal array antennas High gain X band hybrid feed antennas for surface radars Compact and miniaturized antennas UWB planar antennas Automotive antennas
A. Vallecchi and G. Biffi Gentili, Design of dual-polarized series-fed microstrip arrays with low losses and high polarization purity, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, vol. 53, no. 5, pp. 1791-1798, May 2005.
A. Vallecchi and G. Biffi Gentili, Broad band full scan coverage polarization agile spherical conformal array antennas: pseudo-uniform vs. pseudo-random element arrangements, 2003 IEEE International Symposium on Phased Array Systems and Technology, Oct. 14-17, 2003, Boston, Massachusetts.
Millimeter wave planar dual layer array for LMDS systems (Under Compel Spa research contract)
G. Garfagnini, M. Cerretelli, R. Serenelli, G. Biffi Gentili, Dual Circularly Polarized Radial Line Slot Antenna, Quaderni di Elettromagnetismo Applicato (SIEm), to appear
Radiation pattern of a FM multiwire antenna embedded inside the Ferrari M137 rear window (Under ASK Spa research contract)
M. Cerretelli, G. Biffi Gentili, A new compact multi-band folded polygonal monopole for automotive application, ARP 2004: The IASTED International Conference on Antennas, Radar, and Wave Propagation, Banff, AB, Canada, July 8-10, 2004. G. Biffi Gentili, M. Cerretelli, L. Cecchi, Coated Conical Antenna for Automotive Application, Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 85-97, January 2004.
Microwave Sensor research topics Research activity covers topics addressing industrial, scientific, medical and environmental heritage sensing needs Microwave aquametry Dielectric spectroscopy Surface and sub-surface planar sensors High temperature microwave sensors Near-field anisotropy sensors Sensor-MUT electromagnetic interaction modeling Material moisture sensing Calibration and inversion techniques Smart sensor networks Microwave plethysmography
G. Biffi Gentili, C. Riminesi, N. Sottani, Full-wave modeling of microwave planar reflection sensors for material moisture testing, Special Issue on Subsurface Sensing Technologies and Applications, International Journal on Microwave and Millimeter Wave Non-destructive Evaluation, 2, 4, pp. 453-470, October 2001.
Cooling air flow Heating volume High temperature ceramic sample Reflection microwave TEM Cell Sensor for ceramic materials characterization at very high temperatures (Under Colorobbia Spa research contract) M. Linari, G. Biffi Gentili, G. Baldi, A new microwave sensor for measuring dielectric properties of materials at high temperature, Atti 2 MISA 2004, p. 24, October 2004.
Evanescent field microstrip ring sensor (surface planar sensor) Near field cavity-backed meander slot Sensor (sub-surface planar sensor) G. Avitabile, G. Biffi Gentili, N. Sottani, A rugged active sensor for microwave aquametry, Microwave Symposium Digest, 2001 IEEE MTT-S International, Phoenix, Arizona, USA, May 20-25, 2001, vol. 3, pp. 2259-2262. M. Cerretelli, C. Riminesi, N. Sottani, G. Biffi Gentili, Slot Sensor for Moisture Content Measurement of Thin Materials, 6th International Workshop on Finite Elements for Microwave Engineering-Antennas, Circuits and Devices, Chios, Grecee, May 30-June 1, 2002.
Microwave and RF Hyperthermia research topics Research activity covers topics addressing microwave applicator modeling and optimization, RF heating of biological tissues and temperature monitoring Loco-regional microwave applicators Endocavitary microwave applicators Minimally invasive microwave interstitial applicators RF magnetic applicators Magnetic nanoparticles assisted hyperthermia Magnetic targeting Transponder-based temperature monitoring
Catheter Anchor Balloon 65 mm 2 mm Applicator SAR distribution Longitudinal section TISSUE G. Biffi Gentili, M. Cerretelli, I. Longo, N. Tosoratti, A Coaxial Antenna with Miniaturized Choke for Minimally Invasive Interstitial Heating, IEEE Trans. On Biomedical Engineering, vol. 50, no. 1, pp.82-88, January 2003.
Catheter Applicator Temperature monitoring Anchor Balloon TISSUE Catheter Transponder Anchor Balloon Thermocouple Applicator TISSUE M. Linari, G. Garfagnini, G. Biffi Gentili, Implantable micro-transponder system for measuring tissue temperature during hyperthermic treatments: a feasibility study, Atti XV RiNEm, pp. 165-168, sett. 2004.
Flexible applicator for radiofrequency physiotherapy SAR distribution
Applicator with bolus for radiofrequency physiotherapy Applicator Design Numerical results Measured results
Ferrite Core Applicators for Magnetic Nanoparticles Assisted RF Hyperthermia Magnetic field UI type Ferrite Core µ = 100 Dimensions: 28 x 30 x 104 mm3 Ring type Ferrite Core µ = 100 Dimensions: 104 / 74 /30 mm
Microwave heating research topics Research activity has been focused on the EM and thermal modeling of industrial high power microwave heating processes Granular ceramic materials EM modeling High temperature dielectric spectroscopy Mono and multimodal resonant cavity EM modeling