RF and High-Frequency Analog
Radio frequency and high-frequency analog electronics encompasses the specialized techniques required when operating circuits at frequencies where wavelength becomes comparable to physical dimensions and where parasitic effects dominate circuit behavior. Unlike low-frequency analog design where lumped-element models suffice, RF engineering demands consideration of distributed effects, transmission line behavior, impedance matching, and the unique characteristics of active devices at microwave frequencies.
From the small-signal amplifiers that boost weak received signals to the power amplifiers that generate transmitter output, from the oscillators and synthesizers that create stable reference frequencies to the impedance matching networks that maximize power transfer, this discipline combines electromagnetic theory with practical circuit design to create the building blocks of modern wireless communication, radar systems, and countless other RF applications.