Sideband Suppression on High Power Microwave Antenna

The Project

Are you passionate about developing novel research and keen to shape the future of RF and Microwave energy transfer technologies? We are recruiting a motivated PhD candidate to undertake an exciting project within the EPSRC Energy Transfer Technologies Doctoral Training Hub. As a student of the Hub, you will receive an enhanced stipend of £24,780 per year from Oct 2025, plus additional funds of £7,000 a year for travel, conferences and research equipment. This project is co- funded by Teledyne e2v.

The project will focus on 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
•  Experimental techniques

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

The Hub

The Doctoral Hub specialises in developing research and training the next generation of leaders in energy transfer technologies for defence and related sectors. The successful candidate will be based at [university] and throughout their PhD will benefit from the support and expertise of our diverse academic community, a community of students working towards similar goals, as well as our specialist industrial network.

Why Join Us?

• Industrial Collaboration: Each PhD student within the Hub is partnered with an industry collaborator, providing placement opportunities to work and train alongside industry experts
• Comprehensive Training: The Hub offers a blend of academic and industrial training, preparing you for diverse career pathways in research or industry
• Cohort Experience: Build your research network through inclusion in a vibrant cohort of PhD students that conduct research with academic leaders across leading UK institutions. Engage in online and face-to-face activities, including cohort-building events and collaborative learning exercises
• Funding: A generous fully funded studentship (no fees and a monthly personal payment) with additional support for conferences, travel, training, consumables and extended placement with industry collaborators.

Key Details

• Host Institution: University of Strathclyde
• Industry Partner: Teledyne e2v
• PhD Duration: 4 years
• Start Date: by 1st October 2025
• Enhanced stipend of £24,780 from Oct 2025

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 Hub is committed to improving diversity within the sector and as such we aim to provide an inclusive environment in which all students can thrive. We particularly encourage applications from women, disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, and students from low-income/ non-typical backgrounds to apply. We can also consider part time PhD students. We encourage and support talented individuals from various STEM backgrounds with ambition and an interest in making a difference. 

Eligibility

PhD Candidates must hold a minimum of an upper Second Class UK Honours degree or international equivalent in a relevant science or engineering discipline. Candidates must be UK Nationals and be willing to apply for and able to obtain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance.

Before you apply

We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisors for this project before you apply.

How to apply

https://www.strath.ac.uk/courses/research/physics/#apply

Keywords

Antenna, High Power Microwaves, Numerical Modelling/Experimental Measurements