Computer Optimization of Microwave Circuits

This paper reviews the state of the art of methods and techniques suitable for use in the automatic optimization of microwave circuits by digital computer. A number of significant recent developments in the rapidly developing area of computer-oriented circuit theory and design which may be directly applied to high frequency or distributed circuits are emphasized. A fairly extensive classified bibliography on optimization methods and on some applications, primarily in the microwave area, is included. The principal aim of this paper is to bring the microwave circuit designer up to date with developments in computer-oriented optimization methods and techniques and their application to microwave circuit design. To achieve this, the state of the art is reviewed in a tutorial manner, highlighting the talk with material taken from a variety of recent research papers, published during the last year or so. Promising areas for future work are indicated. A fairly extensive classified bibliography on optimization methods and on some applications, primarily in the microwave area, concludes the paper. Papers and books not necessarily in the microwave area are referenced if it is felt that the subject matter is, nevertheless, relevant. The first question that a microwave circuit designer might have is what material should he read to convince himself that he can solve a wide variety of design problems using optimization techniques. Five articles [1]-[5] are referenced under the heading of Reviews of Network Optimization which should probably be found most useful.