Waveguides

• Rectangular Waveguides
– TEM, TE and TM waves
– Cutoff Frequency
– Wave Propagation
– Wave Velocity,
 Waveguides
Rectangular Circular
• In the previous chapters, a pair of waveguide waveguide
conductors was used to guide
electromagnetic wave propagation.
This propagation was via the
transverse electromagnetic (TEM)
mode, meaning both the electric and
magnetic field components were Optical Fiber
Dielectric Waveguide
transverse, or perpendicular, to the
direction of propagation.
• In this chapter we investigate wave-
guiding structures that support
propagation in non-TEM modes,
namely in the transverse electric (TE)
and transverse magnetic (TM) modes.
• In general, the term waveguide refers
to constructs that only support non-
TEM mode propagation. Such
constructs share an important trait:
they are unable to support wave
propagation below a certain frequency,
termed the cutoff frequency.
 Rectangular Waveguide
• Let us consider a rectangular waveguide Rectangular Waveguide
with interior dimensions are a x b,
• Waveguide can support TE and TM modes.
– In TE modes, the electric field is transverse
to the direction of propagation.
– In TM modes, the magnetic field that is
transverse and an electric field component is
in the propagation direction.
• The order of the mode refers to the field Location of modes
configuration in the guide, and is given by m
and n integer subscripts, TEmn and TMmn.
– The m subscript corresponds to the number
of half-wave variations of the field in the x
direction, and
– The n subscript is the number of half-wave
variations in the y direction.
• A particular mode is only supported above
its cutoff frequency. The cutoff frequency is
given by
2 2 2 2
1 m n c m n
f cmn  
        
2   a  b 2 r r  a  b
1 1 1 1 c
u   
  o  r  o r  o o  r r  r r where c  3  108 m/s
 Rectangular Waveguide
The cutoff frequency is given by
Rectangular Waveguide
For air r  1
and  r  1 2 2
2 2 c m n
c m n fcmn     
fcmn      2  a  b
2 r r  a  b
where c  3 108 m/s
Location of modes
Table 7.1: Some Standard Rectangular Waveguide
Waveguide a b t fc10 freq range
Designation (in) (in) (in) (GHz) (GHz)
WR975 9.750 4.875 .125 .605 .75 – 1.12
WR650 6.500 3.250 .080 .908 1.12 – 1.70
WR430 4.300 2.150 .080 1.375 1.70 – 2.60
WR284 2.84 1.34 .080 2.08 2.60 – 3.95
WR187 1.872 .872 .064 3.16 3.95 – 5.85
WR137 1.372 .622 .064 4.29 5.85 – 8.20
WR90 .900 .450 .050 6.56 8.2 – 12.4
WR62 .622 .311 .040 9.49 12.4 - 18
To understand the concept of cutoff frequency, you can use the analogy of a road
system with lanes having different speed limits.
 Rectangular Waveguide
• Let us take a look at the field pattern for two Rectangular Waveguide
modes, TE10 and TE20
– In both cases, E only varies in the x direction;
since n = 0, it is constant in the y direction.
– For TE10, the electric field has a half sine wave
pattern, while for TE20 a full sine wave pattern
is observed.
 Rectangular Waveguide
Example
Let us calculate the cutoff frequency for the first four modes of WR284 waveguide.
From Table 7.1 the guide dimensions are a = 2.840 mils and b = 1.340 mils.
Converting to metric units we have a = 7.214 cm and b = 3.404 cm.

2 2
c m n
fcmn      where c  3  108 m/s
2  a  b

c 3 x108 m TM11
TE10: f c10   s 100cm  2.08 GHz
2a 2  7.214cm  1m
TE10 TE20 TE01 TE11

c 3 x108 m 2.08 GHz 4.16 GHz 4.41 GHz 4.87 GHz

TE01: fc 01   s 100cm  4.41 GHz
2b 2  3.404cm  1m

TE20: f c 20  c  4.16 GHz

a
3 x108 m  1
2
  1
2
 100cm
TE11: f c11  s
     4.87 GHz
2  7.214cm   3.404cm  1m
 Rectangular Waveguide
Example

For air c  3 108 m/s

 Rectangular Waveguide - Wave Propagation
We can achieve a qualitative understanding of
wave propagation in waveguide by considering the
wave to be a superposition of a pair of TEM waves.

Let us consider a TEM wave propagating in the z

direction. Figure shows the wave fronts; bold lines
indicating constant phase at the maximum value of
the field (+Eo), and lighter lines indicating constant
phase at the minimum value (-Eo).

The waves propagate at a velocity uu, where the u

subscript indicates media unbounded by guide
walls. In air, uu = c.
 Rectangular Waveguide - Wave Propagation

Now consider a pair of identical TEM waves, labeled

as u+ and u- in Figure (a). The u+ wave is
propagating at an angle + to the z axis, while the u-
wave propagates at an angle –.

These waves are combined in Figure (b). Notice that

horizontal lines can be drawn on the superposed
waves that correspond to zero field. Along these
lines the u+ wave is always 180 out of phase with
the u- wave.
 Rectangular Waveguide - Wave Propagation
Since we know E = 0 on a perfect conductor, we can replace
the horizontal lines of zero field with perfect conducting walls.
Now, u+ and u- are reflected off the walls as they propagate
along the guide. (a)

The distance separating adjacent zero-field lines in Figure (b),

or separating the conducting walls in Figure (a), is given as the
dimension a in Figure (b). a

The distance a is determined by the angle  and by the

distance between wavefront peaks, or the wavelength . For a (b)
given wave velocity uu, the frequency is f = uu/.

If we fix the wall separation at a, and change the frequency, we

must then also change the angle  if we are to maintain a
propagating wave. Figure (b) shows wave fronts for the u+
wave.

The edge of a +Eo wave front (point A) will line up with the
edge of a –Eo front (point B), and the two fronts must be /2
apart for the m = 1 mode.
 Rectangular Waveguide - Wave Propagation

For any value of m, we can write by simple trigonometry

m 2 2a uu
sin    sin  
m f
a

The waveguide can support propagation as long as the wavelength

is smaller than a critical value, c, that occurs at  = 90, or

2a uu
c  
m fc
Where fc is the cutoff frequency for the propagating mode.

We can relate the angle  to the operating frequency and

the cutoff frequency by

 f
sin    c
c f
 Rectangular Waveguide - Wave Propagation
The time tAC it takes for the wavefront to move from A
to C (a distance lAC) is
Distance from A to C l AC m 2
t AC   
Wavefront Velocity uu uu

A constant phase point moves along the wall from A to D. Calling

this phase velocity up, and given the distance lAD is
m 2
l AD 
cos 

Then the time tAD to travel from A to D is

l m 2
t AD  AD 
up cos  u p

Since the times tAD and tAC must be equal, we have

uu
up 
cos 
 Rectangular Waveguide - Wave Propagation
The Wave velocity is given by Phase velocity
1 1 1 1 c up Wave velocity
uu    
  o  r  o r  o o  r r  r r Group velocity
where c  3  108 m/s
The Phase velocity is given by
uu
uu up 
up 
 
2
fc
cos  1 Analogy!
using f
Beach
Point of contact
cos   1  sin   1   fc f  2
cos  
2 2

u p Phase velocity
Wave velocity
The Group velocity is given by uu

uG  uu cos 
uG Group velocity

 
2
fc
uG  u u 1 
f
uu
Ocean
 Rectangular Waveguide - Wave Propagation
The phase constant is given by

 
2
fc
  u 1 
f

The guide wavelength is given by

u


 
2
fc
1
f

The ratio of the transverse electric field to the transverse magnetic field for a
propagating mode at a particular frequency is the waveguide impedance.

For a TE mode, the wave impedance is For a TM mode, the wave impedance is
u
TE
Z mn  , 2
 f 
2
 f 
1  c 
TM
Z mn  u 1   c  .
 f   f 
 Rectangular Waveguide
Example
 Rectangular Waveguide
Example

Let’s determine the TE mode impedance looking into a 20 cm long section of shorted WR90
waveguide operating at 10 GHz.

From the Waveguide Table 7.1, a = 0.9 inch (or) 2.286 cm and b = 0.450 inch (or) 1.143 cm.

2 2
c m n Mode Cutoff Frequency Mode Cutoff Frequency
fcmn     
2  a  b TE10 6.56 GHz TE10 6.56 GHz
TE01 13.12 GHz Rearrange TE01 13.12 GHz
TE11 TE20 13.13 GHz
14.67 GHz
TE20 13.13 GHz TE11 14.67 GHz
TE02 26.25 GHz TE02 26.25 GHz

TM11
TE10 TE01 TE20 TE11 TE02

6.56 GHz 13.12 GHz 14.67 GHz 26.25 GHz

13.13 GHz

At 10 GHz, only the TE10 mode is supported!

 Rectangular Waveguide
Example

The impedance looking into a short circuit is

given by
TE
Z IN  jZ10 tan   l 
 rad 
Z IN  j  500  tan  158  0.2m 
 m 
Z IN  j  500  tan  31.6   j100

The TE10 mode impedance The TE10 mode propagation constant is

given by

120  2 2
Z TE
  500. f  2 f f 
10
2   u 1  c   1 c 
 6.56GHz 
1-   f  c  f 

 10GHz  
2 10 x109 Hz  2
 6.56GHz  rad
 1    158
3 x108 m  10GHz  m
s