Chapter 1: Review of principle and Analysis of
Wave Guide
1 Sem. II, 2016/17 Microwave Devices and Systems By Waltengus 1
Outline
Introduction
Wave Guide Principles and Analysis
Types and Mode Classification
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Principles and Analysis of Waveguides
A Hollow metallic tube of uniform cross section for transmitting
electromagnetic waves by successive reflections from the inner
walls of the tube is called waveguide
Waveguides may be used to carry energy between pieces
of equipment or over longer distances to carry transmitter power
to an antenna or microwave signals from an antenna to a
receiver
Waveguides are practical only for signals of extremely high
frequency, where the wavelength approaches the cross-sectional
dimensions of the waveguide.
Below such frequencies, waveguides are useless as electrical
transmission lines.
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Waveguides will only carry or propagate signals above a
certain frequency, known as the cut-off frequency
Below this the waveguide is not able to carry the signals
This is obviously an important parameter, and one of the
most basic specifications for its operation
Often the insides of waveguides are plated with silver to
reduce resistance and transmission losses
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The angles of incidence and reflection depend on the
operating frequency.
At high frequencies, the angle is large and the path between
the opposite walls is relatively long.
As the operating frequency decreases, the angle also
decreases and the path between the sides shortens.
When the operating frequency reaches the cutoff frequency
of the waveguide, the signal bounces back and forth between
the sidewalls of the waveguide.
No energy is propagated.
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Figure 1: Wave paths in a waveguide at various frequencies
(a) High frequency
(b) Medium frequency
(c) Low frequency
(d) Cut off frequency
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Uses
To reduce attenuation loss
High frequencies
High power
Can operate only above certain frequencies
Acts as a High-pass filter
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Waveguide Disadvantages
Physical size is the primary lower-frequency limitation of waveguides
The width of a waveguide must be approximately a half wavelength at the
frequency of the wave to be transported
This makes the use of waveguides at frequencies below 300 Mega hertz
increasingly impractical
The lower frequency range of any system using waveguides is limited by the
physical dimensions of the waveguides
Waveguides are difficult to install because of their rigid, hollow-pipe
shape
Special couplings at the joints are required to assure proper operation
Also, the inside surfaces of waveguides are often plated with silver or gold to
reduce skin effect losses
These requirements increase the costs and decrease the practicality of
waveguide systems at any other than microwave frequencies
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Mode Of Propagation
An electromagnetic energy to be carried by a waveguide is injected
into one end of the waveguide.
The electric and magnetic fields associated with the signal bounce
off the inside walls back and forth as it progresses down the
waveguide
In order to determine the EM field configuration within the
waveguide,
Maxwell's equations should be solved subject to appropriate
boundary conditions at the walls of the guide
Such solutions give rise to a number of field configurations.
Each configuration is known as a mode
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The following are the d/t modes possible in a waveguide system
1. Transverse Electro Magnetic (TEM) wave:
The electric field, E and the magnetic field, H are oriented
transverse to the direction of propagation of wave
Ez= 0 and Hz= 0
No cut-off frequency
TEM wave cannot propagate within a hollow pipe
lacks an axial conductor to carry current
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Continued
Transverse Electric (TE) wave:
Here only the electric field is purely transverse to the direction of
propagation and the magnetic field is not purely transverse. (i.e.)
Ez= 0, Hz ≠ 0.
Transverse Magnetic (TM) wave:
Here only magnetic field is transverse to the direction of propagation
and the electric field is not purely transverse. (i.e.)
Ez ≠ 0, Hz= 0
Hybrid wave:
Here neither electric nor magnetic fields are purely transverse to the
direction of propagation. (i.e.) Ez ≠ 0, Hz ≠ 0
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Rectangular Waveguides
A waveguide having rectangular cross section is known as
Rectangular waveguide
Propagation modes are TM and TE but not TEM since only one
conductor is present
It is a standard convention to have the longest side of the waveguide along
x-axis [a (width) > b (length)]
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The order of the mode refers to the field 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
Applications
High-power systems
Millimeter wave applications
Satellite systems
Precision test applications
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It consists of a hollow, round (circular cross section) metal
pipe that supports TE and TM waveguide modes.
Applications
Used in transmission of circularly polarized waves, to
connect components having circular cross-section to
rectangular waveguide
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The structure of such a circular waveguide with inner radius a, is
shown below:
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It is formed with a rectangular ridged projecting inward from
one or both of the wide walls in a rectangular waveguide.
Ridged is used to concentrate the electric field across the
ridge and to lower the cutoff frequency of TE mode.
Applications
Attractive for UHF and low microwave ranges
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Continued
Ridged Waveguide Using Singled Ridged Waveguide
Metal Bar
Double Ridged Waveguide
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It is used for bends, twists or in applications where certain
criteria may not be fulfilled by normal waveguides.
Figure 1.2 below shows some of the flexible waveguides:
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Continued
The H bend of Figure (a) is used to turn a 90° corner.
The E bend Figure (b) also completes a 90° turn in either an
upward or downward direction.
The twist of Figure (c) is used to effect a shift in the
polarization of the wave.
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Critical (cut-off) frequency, fc (Hz)
the lowest frequency for which a mode will propagate in a
waveguide.
Critical (cut-off) wavelength, λc (m/cycle)
the largest wavelength that can propagate in the waveguide
without any minimum attenuation
Group velocity (vg, m/s)
The velocity at which a wave propagates.
Refers to the velocity of a group of waves.
It is also the velocity at which information signals or energy
is propagated
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Phase velocity (vp, m/s)
The velocity at which the wave changes phase.
It is the apparent velocity of the wave (i.e.: max electric
intensity point).
vp always equal to or greater than vg (vp≥ vg).
It may exceed the velocity of light (velocity in free space)
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Dominant mode (mode with lowest cutoff frequency) for rectangular
waveguide is TE
A waveguide acts as a high-pass filter in that it passes only those
frequencies above the cutoff frequency
The cutoff frequency is given by
2 2 2 2
1 m n c m n
fcmn
2 a b 2 r r a b
1 1 1 1 c
u
o r o r o o r r r r
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c
vg v p c 2
g vp
f f
2
c
2
g o
c
o
g c ( g ) c
1 fc f
2 vp
o 1 fc f
2
2
fc
u 1
f
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Continued
c c
fc ( forTE )
2a c
o
Z o 377 (TM mod e)
g
377 g
Zo 377 (TE mod e)
1 fc f o
2
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Continued
Exercise 1 For a rectangular waveguide with a width of 3cm and a
desired frequency of operation of 6GHz (for dominant mode),
determine:
a) Cut-off frequency
b) Cut-off wavelength
c) Group velocity
d) Phase velocity
e) Propagation wavelength in the waveguide
f) Characteristic impedance
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Thanks
