Author Interview: Antenna Engineering and Radiowave Propagation with Matlab

In this interview, we talk to Osama W. Ata, author of the book Antenna Engineering and Radiowave Propagation with MATLAB®. We discuss the motivation behind writing the book, the target audience, the most useful aspects of the book, the challenges of writing the book, and advice for other engineers who are considering writing a book.

1. Could you summarize the main content of your book? What are the key topics addressed?

My book, Antenna Engineering and Radio Wave Propagation with MATLAB®, provides a comprehensive exploration of antenna theory and radio wave propagation, bridging fundamental principles with advanced design techniques. It covers wire antennas, short current filaments, dipoles, arrays, horn and aperture antennas, reflector antennas, and phase-corrected compact designs. Key topics include sidelobe suppression, ray-theory-based horn designs, aperture field analysis, and experimental evaluation methods. Additionally, the book explores modern applications such as 5G antenna design, deployable satellite antennas, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), biomedical antennas, and wave propagation in lossy media. Fifty MATLAB codes supplement the text, enabling practical simulations, link budget calculations, and propagation modeling for hands-on learning in contemporary wireless communication systems.

2. What is the primary purpose of your book? How do you envision it helping readers in their work or studies?

The primary purpose of this book is to equip students, researchers, and engineers with both a deep theoretical understanding and practical tools for antenna design and radio wave propagation analysis. By combining rigorous derivations, experimental methods, and MATLAB simulations, the book allows readers to bridge the gap between theory and application. It is intended to guide learners through core concepts while also exposing them to advanced techniques used in 5G, satellite communication, and biomedical antenna systems. Readers can directly apply the MATLAB codes to model, simulate, and optimize antenna designs, preparing them to tackle real-world challenges in academic research, wireless network planning, and high-performance communication system development.

3. What sets your book apart from other works in the same field? Are there any innovative concepts, methodologies, or insights that make it stand out?

This book stands out by integrating classical antenna theory with contemporary and emerging technologies in a single, coherent framework. Unique features include the introduction of hyperbolic secant (HYSEC) phase-corrected horn antennas, advanced sidelobe suppression methods, and practical applications of ray theory in antenna design. It also explores novel antenna arrays, deployable satellite antennas, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), and biomedical antennas, which are rarely addressed in traditional texts. The inclusion of 50 MATLAB codes for hands-on simulation and experimental verification further distinguishes the work, enabling readers to directly apply theoretical concepts to real-world designs. Overall, it provides both conceptual depth and practical methodology not commonly found in standard antenna engineering books.

4. Who is the intended readership for your book? Are there specific industries, professionals, or fields of study that would benefit most from this content?

The book targets graduate and postgraduate students, researchers, and practicing engineers in antenna engineering, electromagnetics, and wireless communication. Professionals working in telecommunications, satellite systems, radar technology, and biomedical device design will find its content directly applicable. Additionally, educators and academic researchers can leverage the MATLAB simulations and experimental methodologies to enhance laboratory instruction and research projects. Industries focused on 5G, 6G, IoT, and emerging wireless technologies will benefit from the advanced sections on massive MIMO, beamforming, and reconfigurable antenna systems. Overall, the book serves as both a foundational reference and a practical guide for designing, analyzing, and optimizing modern antennas and propagation systems.

5. What are the most important lessons or insights you want readers to take away from this book?

The book emphasizes the interplay between theory, design, and experimental validation in antenna engineering. Key lessons include understanding the fundamental principles of radiation, directivity, gain, and propagation, while applying advanced methods such as phase-correction, sidelobe suppression, and ray-theory-based design. Readers will gain insights into designing antennas for modern applications including 5G, satellite communications, RIS, and biomedical devices. They will also learn the importance of simulation and practical experimentation, bridging theoretical models with real-world performance. Ultimately, the book aims to instill a systematic problem-solving approach, empowering readers to innovate, optimize, and adapt antenna designs to meet evolving technological requirements.

6. Does your book include any original research, case studies, or data? If so, could you highlight some of the most significant findings?

Yes, the book incorporates original research and experimental investigations. Notable contributions include the design and verification of hyperbolic secant (HYSEC) phase-corrected horn antennas, novel compact antenna designs, and advanced sidelobe suppression techniques for sectoral horn antennas. It also presents MATLAB-based analyses of deployable satellite antennas, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), and biomedical antenna systems. Experimental results demonstrate the accuracy of ray-theory methods compared with finite-difference simulations, offering practical validation for advanced design approaches. These findings provide readers with both novel design insights and quantitative data, bridging theoretical predictions with experimental outcomes and advancing the state-of-the-art in antenna engineering.

7. Does your book address any new or emerging trends in the field? How does it prepare readers for future developments?

The book addresses several emerging trends, including 5G and 6G antenna technologies, massive MIMO, beamforming, compact multiband designs, RIS, and deployable satellite antennas. It also explores biomedical antennas and wave propagation in lossy media, reflecting the growing intersection of electromagnetics with healthcare and wearable technologies. By presenting both theoretical frameworks and MATLAB simulations, the book equips readers with the analytical and computational skills necessary to design next-generation communication systems. Additionally, it highlights future trends in adaptive arrays, reconfigurable antenna architectures, and integrated photonic-antenna systems, preparing readers to anticipate technological shifts and contribute to innovation in wireless communication and antenna engineering.

8. What personal experiences, if any, have shaped your perspective or approach to the topics discussed in your book?

My perspective is shaped by decades of academic research, industry experience, and international fellowships. Having worked on advanced antenna systems at Sprint Telecommunications, as well as teaching and conducting research at multiple universities worldwide, I have observed firsthand the critical link between theory, design, and experimentation. My experience with Fulbright and senior visiting fellowships exposed me to cutting-edge developments in microwave, RF, and satellite systems. These experiences inspired me to create a resource that blends rigorous theory with practical application, MATLAB simulations, and experimental validation, aiming to provide readers with both deep understanding and tangible skills for addressing real-world antenna and propagation challenges.

9. How does your book address challenges faced by engineers and researchers in modern wireless communication?

The book directly tackles real-world challenges such as optimizing antenna performance for 5G and 6G networks, reducing sidelobes, enhancing coverage with reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), and designing deployable satellite antennas under practical constraints. It provides readers with both theoretical frameworks and MATLAB-based tools to analyze complex propagation environments, perform link budget calculations, and refine antenna designs. By bridging theory with hands-on problem-solving, the book empowers engineers and researchers to overcome design limitations, improve system efficiency, and innovate in rapidly evolving wireless and satellite communication applications.

10. How can this book inspire innovation or research in the field of antenna engineering?

Beyond teaching core principles, the book introduces novel methodologies and forward-looking technologies, including phase-corrected compact antennas, HYSEC horn designs, cognitive and metamaterial-based arrays, and biomedical antennas. By presenting advanced simulations, experimental validations, and emerging applications, it encourages readers to explore new research directions, prototype innovative antenna systems, and contribute to next-generation communication solutions. The combination of original insights, practical tools, and emerging trends positions the book as a springboard for creative problem-solving and impactful research in both academic and industrial contexts.

Learn more about the book on our websites: ARTECH HOUSE USA : Antenna Engineering and Radiowave Propagation with MATLAB®

ARTECH HOUSE U.K.: Antenna Engineering and Radiowave Propagation with MATLAB®

More Microwave and RF content here: Antennas and Propagation – Artech House Insider