Near-Field Visualization of Antennas’ Radiated Electric Field by Infrared Thermography as a Supplement Tool for RF Engineering Education

This paper presents the use of infrared thermography (IR) as a complementary teaching tool for RF engineering curricula. It enables the visualization of the radiated electric field intensity of various types of antennas, even just a few millimeters away from the source. We present some examples of the near-field visualization of the electric field of some commonly used antennas. Additionally, two practical classroom applications are presented to show how this technology can enhance students experience and interest in the RF domain. Overall, both student and instructor feedback was very positive, demonstrating great interest in the technology and its potential use as an educational pedagogical resource.