Affiliations:
Dept. of Electrical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology

Overview:
Lightning is a transient, high-current electric discharge with the height in kilometer range. This natural electromagnetic interfering (EMI) source is a great concern to electronic equipment and information technology systems used. The mis-operation/failure of such apparatus may not only be due to a direct contact with the lightning discharge, but it is possible to be the consequence of an indirect coupling with the lightning channel. The indirect coupling is done through electromagnetic field radiated by the lightning discharge, or through the induced over voltage propagated via power/communication lines. It is worth nothing that the cost of lightning- related damages in the industrialized world paid by insurance companies usually amounts to about 20% of their total annual budget. This workshop aims to discuss various aspects of lightning phenomenon, including its measurement, modeling, and protection methods. The workshop also presents the lighting research and development works done in the electromagnetic research laboratory at Amirkabir university of Technology during last 10 years.

Contents:
Physics of lightning
Modeling of lightning processes
Effects of lightning on neighboring environment
Lightning protective techniques
Lightning locating techniques
EM codes for analyzing lightnining-related EMC problems

Place and Date:
Isfahan Telecom Company Training Center, Friday, 15 Aug. 2003.

Presenters' Biography:
S. H. H. Sadeghi received the BSc. degree in electrical engineering in 1980 from Sharif University of Technology, Iran, and the MSc. Degree in 1984 from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, England. Between 1980 and 1983, he worked in the electrical power industry in Iran. For 1984, he was a Research Assistant at the University of Lancaster, England. He then joined the University of Essex, England, as a Senior Research Officer where he received his Ph.D. degree in 1991. In 1992, Dr. Sadeghi was appointed as a Research Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt University, USA. Between 1996 and 1997, he was Visiting Professor at the University of Wisconsin, USA. He is presently Professor of electrical engineering at Amirkabir University of Technology, Iran. His current research interests include electromagnetic non-destructive testing and lightning-related electromagnetic compatibility problems in power engineering.

Rouzbeh Moini was born in Tehran, Iran in 1963. He received the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electronics from Limoges University, Limoges, France. In 1988, he joined the Electrical Engineering Department of Amirkabir University (Tehran Polytechnic), where he is currently professor of telecommunication. Between 1995 and 1996, he was a visiting professor in University of Florida, Gainesville, USA. Dr. Moini received the 1995 IDB merit scholarship award. His main research interest is numerical methods in electromagnetic, lightning-related electromagnetic compatibility problems and antenna theory.