The College of Electronics Engineering at the University of Ninevah discussed a master’s thesis submitted by Ms. Ghufran Khalil Mahmoud on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, entitled:
“Development of a Circularly Polarized High-Gain Leaky-Wave Antenna for CubeSat Communication.”
The thesis aimed to design and develop Leaky-Wave Antennas (LWAs) based on Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW) technology to produce compact, high-efficiency antennas that meet the stringent size and resource constraints of CubeSat platforms. The proposed designs provide high antenna gain, circular polarization, and frequency-controlled electronic beam scanning.
The research involved the design of three different antenna configurations, including an X-band antenna, a dual-band antenna, and a millimeter-wave (mmWave) antenna. The study also incorporated comprehensive parametric analyses to optimize the antennas’ electromagnetic performance and determine the optimal geometric parameters affecting their operational characteristics.
The findings demonstrated that the proposed antenna designs successfully achieved excellent impedance matching across the intended operating frequency bands, effective circular polarization, high antenna gain, and superior radiation efficiency. Furthermore, the antennas were capable of electronically steering the main beam by varying the operating frequency, eliminating the need for complex feeding networks or phase shifters. These features make the proposed designs promising candidates for CubeSat communications and future space communication systems.
Part of the thesis defense was attended by Professor Aws Zuhair Younis Al-Ashqar, Assistant Dean of the College of Electronics Engineering, and Assistant Professor Dr. Safwan Hafiz Younis, Head of the Department of Communications Engineering.
The examination committee consisted of:
- Professor Dr. Jaafar Ramadan Mohammed – Chair.
- Assistant Professor Dr. Ahmed Jameel Abdul Qader – Member.
- Lecturer Dr. Adham Maan Saleh – Member.
- Assistant Professor Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed – Member and Supervisor.
At the conclusion of the defense, the University of Ninevah extended its sincere congratulations to the researcher, wishing her continued success in her academic career, and expressed its appreciation to the members of the examination committee for their dedication and valuable scientific contributions.
