As guest editor, it’s my pleasure to welcome you to this issue of IEEE Microwave Magazine. This issue focuses on the 2022 International Microwave Symposium (IMS2022), which will be held in Denver in June. As I sit down to write this column, it is a wintry morning in Boulder, Colorado. With snow falling steadily outside my window, it is enticing to envision the warmer time in late spring or early summer when you will have this issue of the magazine in your hands or on your screen.
In that spirit, I hope that this IMS-focused issue will help you look forward and envision your IMS2022 experience so that you can make the most of your time at the conference. To that end, this issue includes a wide variety of columns about the technical program and related activities to help you plan for IMS2022. In addition, the issue includes several feature articles that tie into the conference’s location, themes, and technical program.
As always, IMS will be a multi-faceted event. Browse the columns to learn more about what IMS2022 has in store:
The column from our General Chair Ron Ginley provides a warm welcome to the Denver region and a broad overview of conference.
The Technical Program Chairs, Kate Remley and Dylan Williams, introduce you to the technical content of the conference, including a new element for this conference: the IMS2022 Systems Forum.
To learn more about the Systems Forum, check out the column about the Systems Forum Focus and Special Sessions to learn more about the three systems-level topics that will be covered: “Quantum Systems,” “Radar and Aerospace,” and “Phased Arrays and Over-the-air Applications.”
In addition to the main technical program, there are additional sessions and co-located conferences that can enhance your IMS experience:
You can find out more about the Plenary Sessions, which will feature keynote speakers Dana Anderson, Greg Edlund, and Bernie Carlson.
Consider attending a one of over thirty Workshops that will be part of this year’s event. Note that all 2022 workshops will take place on Sunday or Monday.
The Panel Sessions, which are scheduled during lunchtime each day, will cover a wide range of technical topics.
IEEE Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC) General Chair Osama Shana’a provides an overview of the RFIC Symposium, which will present the latest research in radio frequency, millimeter-wave, and wireless integrated circuits.
Automatic Radio Frequency Techniques Group (ARFTG) General Chair Jeff Jargon invites you to the ARFTG Microwave Measurement Conference, which covers all aspects of test and measurement spanning from RF to THz.
There are also multiple events that will help attendees expand their core knowledge of microwave engineering and engage with the growing MTT community:
This year’s column on Women in Microwaves (WIM) serves as an invitation to all engineers not only attend the WIM event, but also as an invitation to help make the MTT-S a balanced and welcoming environment for everyone.
Project Connect is student program with events spanning four days that provide community building and professional development for students from underrepresented populations in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
The Three Minute Theses Competition provides current students and professionals within fifteen years of their first professional degree a unique opportunity to hone their presentation skills in a competitive environment.
The Student Paper Competition is rigorous and highly competitive. It is a high honor to be selected among the finalists.
RF Boot Camp provides both new and senior professionals a broad, refresher course in the fundamentals, terminology, and applications of RF and microwave design, simulation, and measurements.
In assembling the technical features of this issue, we have endeavored to provide technical content that complements the IMS2022 program. Specifically, we have two invited contributions that align with two of the topics from this year’s Systems Forum: “Radar and Aerospace” and “Phased Arrays and Over-the-air Applications.” The first article is “How Will Radar Be Integrated in Our Daily Life?” by Dr. Wael Abdullah Ahmad and Dr. Xiang Yi. As the title indicates, their feature article provides a broad overview of how radar impacts many aspects of our day-to-day world, including automotive radars, imaging and recognition, as well as healthcare applications. The second Systems Forum contribution is “Millimeter-Wave Phased Arrays and Over-the-Air Characterization for 5G and Beyond” by Mattia Maggi and colleagues. The manuscript presents an overview of phased array antenna technology and over-the-air characterization methods in the millimeter-wave frequency range, including illustrative, practical examples.
The remaining technical features highlight a few examples of research that is happening in the geographical region that neighbors the conference location in Denver. Eric Bogatin, a professor at the University of Colorado and a fellow at Teledyne LeCroy, has contributed a feature entitled “What’s New in Signal Integrity and High Speed Serial Links.” This feature article provides a high-level perspective on the current state-of-the-art for high-speed digital systems and emerging challenges in the field. Another article, “A Prototype Digital Radiometer for Noise Metrology Applications,” was contributed by Dr. Xifeng Lu and his colleagues at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as well as the University of Colorado. This metrology-focused work describes the design, implementation, and potential applications of digital radiometry instrumentation. Finally, “Modern RF Measurements with Hot Atoms” by Alexandra Artusio-Glimpse and co-authors presents another collaborative effort between NIST and the University of Colorado. This article reviews a new paradigm for RF field detection based on optical excitation of alkali atoms.
In closing, I would like to thank Robert Caverly, Sharri Shaw, and Christian Fager at IEEE Microwave Magazine for their support in assembling this issue. I’d also like to offer my deep appreciation to all of the authors who contributed to this effort. To all of the prospective attendees of IMS 2022 in Denver: I wish you a productive and enjoyable conference.