A virtual field-based laboratory for microwave education

The design of complex microwave and millimeter-wave circuits requires field modeling expertise and computer tools that include electromagnetic field simulators. The need for field modeling and simulation tools is growing steadily. Present and future users of such tools must understand the underlying physical phenomena and acquire modeling expertise. Educational packages have thus been developed at the Universities of Victoria and Darmstadt that convey experience in electromagnetic field modeling, simulate a realistic electromagnetics laboratory environment, and invite students to experiment and test new ideas with a minimum of time and material investment.