Development, simulation and construction of cost-effective GTEM cells

Gigahertz transverse electromagnetic (GTEM) cells are used extensively in industry for testing the impact of defined E-fields on devices sensitive to electromagnetic interference. Compared to anechoic chambers, GTEM cells are small, inexpensive and require less powerful amplifiers to achieve the same field strength. This paper presents the design, simulation and qualification of a compact GTEM cell capable of generating field strengths in excess of 600 V/m over a 20 × 20 × 15 cm test cavity, whilst being less than 2.2 × 1.3 × 1 m in total size. Specific hybrid FEM-MLFMM simulation strategies are provided to examine high power device characteristics prior to manufacturing, including accurate modelling of absorber materials. Practical notes on manufacturing and qualification are also presented.