February 27
@
4:00 PM
–
5:30 PM
From Space to the Sky: Multipactor Breakdown and Polarimetric Radar Design
Abstract: From space communications to particle accelerators, multipactor can wreak havoc on high-power RF systems. In this talk, I will present the science underlying multipactor breakdown and discuss the latest advancements in replicating and mitigating it in a laboratory environment. The discussion will
include the innovative components of a high-power multipactor experiment apparatus that allows accurate and reliable multipactor replication. The second part of the talk will address the challenges in designing polarimetric radars for rapid weather observations. Specifically, it will delve into the design and development of high-performance polarimetric phased arrays, which have substantially improved our ability to detect and track fast, catastrophic weather phenomena. In this threatening era of global warming, these radars have been instrumental in predicting severe weather and issuing life-saving warnings.
Mirhamed Mirmozafari
Bio: Mirhamed Mirmozafari is a scientist in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has over 15 years of experience in academic, entrepreneurial, and industrial fields. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma, OK, USA. His research focuses on addressing critical challenges in applied electromagnetics and wireless connectivity, including the polarimetric performance of multifunction radars and multipactor breakdown in satellite communications. His pioneering phased array designs have been adopted by radar communities in the Advanced Radar Research Center of the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Mirmozafari also founded Maxwave LLC in 2020 to develop and commercialize RF technologies and bridge the gap between universities and the market. He was awarded a microgrant by the Wisconsin Center for Technology Commercialization to advance his mm-wave wireless power beaming technology. He also serves as a technical consultant for leading industries such as MACOM and Sound Devices. Dr. Mirmozafari has served as Co-PI for research projects totaling over $1 M funded by U.S. federal agencies. He received the 2nd Prize Student Paper Award at the IEEE APS 2018 Conference and has been a featured author in several issues of Electronic Letters and IEEE journals. He is an IEEE senior member and has served as a technical reviewer for several IEEE and APS journals.