The talk will focus on selected research areas carried out in the Applied Electromagnetics Group at the University of Calgary. Specifically, we will discuss:

• Re-configurable Antenna Arrays. Antenna arrays that utilize tunable array elements are explored in the group. The research focuses on reflectarrays that use elements such as split patch antennas controlled with high Q varactors. 0-350 degrees phase-shifts at each element were achieved. A prototype antenna was built at 5.5 GHz. Simultaneously, prototypes of re-configurable antennas utilizing MEMS technology are explored
• RF MEMS devices. We are interested in tunable and high Q MEMS RF devices. The talk will describe the devices (fabricated in our custom process) such as: analog, ultra low loss phase shifter, tunable inductors (30% tuning with Q up to 30 and self resonance above 35GHz, in CMOS compatible process), high Q fixed inductors (Q above 100), as well as tunable capacitors and filters.
• Simulation tools. The group has long been involved in development of electromagnetics simulation tools. However, in recent years our focus shifted into development of hardware acceleration of computer codes. We have developed solutions that provide up to an order of magnitude acceleration on inexpensive hardware platforms.
• Breast cancer detection research. We have been involved in all aspects of the breast cancer detection, however in this talk I will mainly focus on a database of breast tissue parameters (developed in collaboration with U. of Wisconsin-Madison). A special precision dielectric probes were developed for the project will also be discussed.

Dr Michal Okoniewski is a Professor and Canada Research Chair at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Calgary. He is also affiliated with TR-Labs Calgary. Dr Okoniewski received M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from the Gdansk University of Technology, and had his post-doctoral training at the University of Victoria, BC.

Dr Okoniewski is heading the Applied Electromagnetics Group at the university of Calgary. He is interested in many aspects of applied electromagnetics, ranging from Computational Electrodynamics, to reflectarrays and self configuring antennas, RF MEMS and micromachined devices, as well as re-configurable computational hardware for electromagnetics applications. He is also actively involved in bio-electromagnetics, where he works on tissue spectroscopy and cancer detection. Dr Okoniewski published over 50 journal, and over 150 conference papers.

In 2004 he co-funded Acceleware Inc., a publicly traded company developing acceleration hardware for simulation software.