Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.

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Computing Q-Factors and Resonant

Frequencies of Cavity Resonators
Introduction
A classic benchmark example in computational electromagnetics is to find the resonant
frequency and Q-factor of a cavity with lossy walls. Here, models of rectangular,
cylindrical, and spherical cavities are shown to be in agreement with analytic solutions.

Model Definition
This example considers three geometries:
a rectangular cavity of dimensions 0.9 in-by-0.9 in-by-0.4 in;
a cylindrical cavity of radius 0.48 in and height 0.4 in; and
a spherical cavity of radius 1.35 cm.
The cavity walls are assumed to be a good conductor, such as copper, with an electric
conductivity of 5.7107 S/m, and relative permeability and permittivity of unity. The
interior of the cavity is assumed to be vacuum, with zero electric conductivity, and unit
permeability and permittivity. The analytic solutions to these three cases are given in
Ref. 1.
The lossy walls of the cavity are represented via the impedance boundary condition.
This boundary condition accounts for the frequency dependent losses on the walls of
a cavity due to the non-zero electric conductivity, which makes the eigenvalue problem
nonlinear. When solving any eigenvalue problem, it is necessary to provide a frequency
around which to search for modes. In addition, when solving a nonlinear eigenvalue
problem, it is also necessary to provide a frequency at which to initially evaluate the
frequency-dependent surface losses. Although the guesses for these frequencies do not
need to be very close, solution time is less the closer they are.
It is usually possible to estimate the resonant frequency of interest, and to use this as
an initial guess. It is also possible to quickly estimate the resonant frequency by
building a second model that uses the perfect electrical conductor (PEC) boundary
condition instead of the impedance boundary condition. A model that uses only PEC
boundaries will result in a linear eigenvalue problem, and is less computationally
intensive to solve. Such a model only requires a rough guess at the frequency of the

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mode, and does not require a frequency at which to evaluate the surface losses.
Therefore, it is often convenient to also solve a version of a model without losses.
Q-FACTOR AND RESONANT FREQUENCY IN CAVITY STRUCTURES

Q-factor is one of important parameters characterizing a resonant structure and

defined as Q = (average energy stored/dissipated power). The average energy stored
can be evaluated as a volume integral of Energy density time average (emw.Wav) and
the dissipated power can be evaluated as a surface integral of Surface losses (emw.Qsh).
Another way to calculate Q-factor at the dominant mode is via equations in Ref. 1. For
a rectangular cavity, the dominant mode is TE101, at which the cavity provides the
lowest resonant frequency. The Q-factor and resonant frequency at this mode is
1
2
1,1107
2
Q TE101 = -----------------------------, f TE101 = ------------------ --- + ---

a
c
a
2
R s 1 + -------

2b

(1)

There are two dominant modes for a cylindrical cavity. One dominant mode of the
cylindrical cavity is TE111 when the ratio between the height and radius is more than
2.03. The other dominant mode is TM010 when the ratio is less than 2.03. For this
case, the Q-factor and resonant frequency are given as
1,2025
1
2,4049 2
Q TM 010 = --------------------------, f TM 010 = ------------------ ------------------
a
a
2
R s 1 + ---
h

(2)

For a spherical cavity, TM mode provides the lowest resonant frequency.

2,744
1,004
Q TM 011 = -------------------, f TM 011 = --------------------Rs
2a
In the above equations, Rs is surface resistance defined as R s =
characteristic impedance of free space, 0 0 .

(3)
r
---------- and is the
2

These two analytical approaches are compared with the Q-factor obtained from
Eigenfrequency analysis.

Results and Discussion

The analytic resonant frequencies and Q-factors for these three cases and the results of
the COMSOL model for various levels of mesh refinement, are shown below. These
show that the solutions agree. As the mesh is refined, the polynomial basis functions

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used by the finite element method better approximate the analytic solutions, which are
described by sinusoidal functions for the rectangular cavity and Bessel functions for the
cylindrical and spherical cavities. This difference between the numerical results and the
analytic solution is discretization error, and is always reduced with mesh refinement.
TABLE 1: RESULTS FOR THE TE101 MODE OF A RECTANGULAR CAVITY
MAXIMUM
MESH SIZE

RESONANT FREQUENCY, GHZ

(ANALYTIC=9.273)

Q-FACTOR
(ANALYTIC=7770)

h_max

9.706

7039

h_max/2

9.283

7687

h_max/4

9.273

7765

h_max/8

9.273

7770

TABLE 2: RESULTS FOR THE TM010 MODE OF A CYLINDRICAL CAVITY

MAXIMUM
MESH SIZE

RESONANT FREQUENCY, GHZ

(ANALYTIC=9.412)

Q-FACTOR
(ANALYTIC=8065)

h_max

9.458

7891

h_max/2

9.419

8004

h_max/4

9.411

8056

h_max/8

9.411

8065

TABLE 3: RESULTS FOR THE TM011 MODE OF A SPHERICAL CAVITY

MAXIMUM
MESH SIZE

RESONANT FREQUENCY, GHZ

(ANALYTIC=9.698)

Q-FACTOR
(ANALYTIC=14594)

h_max

9.752

14121

h_max/2

9.723

14430

h_max/4

9.701

14616

h_max/8

9.697

14641

Note that convergence with respect to the mesh is fastest for the rectangular cavity and
slowest for the spherical cavity. This is because the isoparametric finite-element mesh
represents curved surfaces approximately, via second order polynomials by default.
This introduces some small geometric discretization error that is always reduced with
mesh refinement. Although it is possible to use different element orders, the default
second-order curl element (also known as a vector or Nedelec element) is the best
compromise between accuracy and memory requirements. Because memory
requirements for three-dimensional models increase exponentially with increasing
element order, and increasing number of elements, there is strong motivation to use
as coarse a mesh as reasonable. Figure 1 shows the fields within the cavities, as well as
the surface currents and surface losses.

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Figure 1: Arrow plots of electric and magnetic fields. Slice plot of electric field.

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Figure 2: Arrow plots of surface currents. Surface plot of surface losses.

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Notes About the COMSOL Implementation

Solve this model using an Eigenfrequency study. Search for a single eigenfrequency
around 9109 Hz. Because of the impedance boundary condition with a finite
conductivity value, the model solves a nonlinear eigenvalue problem. It is necessary to
provide a frequency at which to initially evaluate the frequency-dependent surface
losses. In the Eigenvalue Solver settings window you therefore need to specify the
linearization point; see the modeling instructions for details.

Reference
1. C.A. Balanis, Advanced Engineering Electromagnetics, Wiley, 1989.

Model Library path: RF_Module/Verification_Models/cavity_resonators

Modeling Instructions
MODEL WIZARD

1 Go to the Model Wizard window.

2 Click Next.
3 In the Add physics tree, select Radio Frequency>Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency
Domain (emw).
4 Click Add Selected.
5 Click Next.
6 Find the Studies subsection. In the tree, select Preset Studies>Eigenfrequency.
7 Click Finish.
GLOBAL DEFINITIONS

Parameters
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Global Definitions and choose Parameters.
2 In the Parameters settings window, locate the Parameters section.
3 Click Load from File.

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4 Browse to the models Model Library folder and double-click the file
cavity_resonators_parameters.txt.

Here, mu0_const and epsilon0_const in the imported table are predefined

COMSOL constants for the permeability and permittivity in free space. From the
Value column you can read off the values f_TE101_analytic_r = 9.273 GHz,
Q_TE101_analytic_r = 7770 for the rectangular cavity,
f_TM010_analytic_c = 9.412 GHz, Q_TM010_analytic_c = 8065 for the
cylindrical cavity, f_TM011_analytic_s = 9.698 GHz, and
Q_TM011_analytic_s = 14594 for the spherical cavity.
GEOMETRY 1

Create a block for the rectangular cavity.

Block 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Geometry 1 and choose Block.
2 In the Block settings window, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Width edit field, type a_r.
4 In the Depth edit field, type a_r.
5 In the Height edit field, type b_r.
6 Click the Build All button.

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E LE C TROM A GN E TI C WAVES , FRE QU E NC Y D OM AI N

Now set up the physics. Override the default perfect electric conductor condition on
the exterior boundaries by an impedance condition.

Impedance Boundary Condition 1

1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Electromagnetic Waves,
Frequency Domain and choose Impedance Boundary Condition.
2 In the Impedance Boundary Condition settings window, locate the Boundary Selection

section.
3 From the Selection list, choose All boundaries.
MATERIALS

Assign material properties on the model. First, set all domains with vacuum.

Material 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Materials and choose Material.
2 In the Material settings window, locate the Material Contents section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Property

Name

Value

Relative permittivity

epsilonr

Relative permeability

mur

Electrical conductivity

sigma

4 Right-click Material 1 and choose Rename.

5 Go to the Rename Material dialog box and type Vacuum in the New name edit field.
6 Click OK.

Define a lossy conductive material for all exterior boundaries.

Material 2
1 Right-click Materials and choose Material.
2 In the Material settings window, locate the Geometric Entity Selection section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Boundary.
4 From the Selection list, choose All boundaries.

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5 Locate the Material Contents section. In the table, enter the following settings:
Property

Name

Value

Relative permittivity

epsilonr

Electrical conductivity

sigma

sigma_wall

Relative permeability

mur

6 Right-click Material 2 and choose Rename.

7 Go to the Rename Material dialog box and type Lossy Wall in the New name edit

field.
8 Click OK.
DEFINITIONS

Add variables for Q-factor calculation and visualization. For this Q-factor
calculation, add two integration coupling operators: one for volume and the other for
surface integration.

Integration 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Definitions and choose Model
Couplings>Integration.
2 In the Integration settings window, locate the Operator Name section.
3 In the Operator name edit field, type int_v.
4 Locate the Source Selection section. From the Selection list, choose All domains.

Integration 2
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Definitions and choose Model
Couplings>Integration.
2 In the Integration settings window, locate the Operator Name section.
3 In the Operator name edit field, type int_s.
4 Locate the Source Selection section. From the Geometric entity level list, choose
Boundary.
5 From the Selection list, choose All boundaries.

Variables 1
1 Right-click Definitions and choose Variables.
2 In the Variables settings window, locate the Variables section.
3 Click Load from File.

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4 Browse to the models Model Library folder and double-click the file
cavity_resonators_model1_variables.txt.

The emw. prefix is for the physics interface, Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain
in the first model. Wav and Qsh are Energy density time average and Surface losses,
respectively.
MESH 1

The maximum mesh size is one dimension of the cavity scaled inversely by d_f,
discretization factor defined in Parameters. The discretization factor is also used as a
parametric sweep variable to see the effect of the mesh refinement.
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Mesh 1 and choose Free
Tetrahedral.

Size
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1>Mesh 1 click Size.
2 In the Size settings window, locate the Element Size section.
3 Click the Custom button.
4 Locate the Element Size Parameters section. In the Maximum element size edit field,

type h_max_r/d_f.
5 In the Maximum element growth rate edit field, type 2.
6 In the Resolution of curvature edit field, type 1.
7 In the Resolution of narrow regions edit field, type 0.1.
8 Click the Build All button.
STUDY 1

Provide the number of modes and a frequency around which to search for modes.

Step 1: Eigenfrequency
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Study 1 node, then click Step 1:
Eigenfrequency.
2 In the Eigenfrequency settings window, locate the Study Settings section.
3 In the Desired number of eigenfrequencies edit field, type 1.
4 In the Search for eigenfrequencies around edit field, type 9e9.

For the nonlinear eigenvalue problem, it is necessary to specify the linearization point
for convergence.

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Solver 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Study 1 and choose Show Default Solver.
2 In the Model Builder window, under Study 1>Solver Configurations>Solver 1 click
Eigenvalue Solver 1.
3 In the Eigenvalue Solver settings window, locate the Values of Linearization Point

section.
4 Find the Value of eigenvalue linearization point subsection. In the Point edit field, type
9e9.

Add a Parametric Sweep as a function of the discretization factor, d_f.

Parametric Sweep
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Study 1 and choose Parametric Sweep.
2 In the Parametric Sweep settings window, locate the Study Settings section.
3 Click Add.
4 In the table, enter the following settings:
Parameter names

Parameter value list

d_f

1 2 4 8

5 Right-click Study 1 and choose Compute.

RESULTS

Electric field
The default plot shows the distribution of the norm of the electric field. Add arrow
plots of the electric and magnetic fields.
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results right-click Electric field and choose Arrow
Volume.
2 In the Arrow Volume settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right

corner of the Expression section. From the menu, choose Electromagnetic Waves,
Frequency Domain>Electric>Electric field (emw.Ex,emw.Ey,emw.Ez).
3 Click the Plot button.
4 In the Model Builder window, right-click Electric field and choose Arrow Volume.
5 In the Arrow Volume settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right

corner of the Expression section. From the menu, choose Electromagnetic Waves,
Frequency Domain>Magnetic>Magnetic field (emw.Hx,emw.Hy,emw.Hz).

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6 Locate the Arrow Positioning section. Find the z grid points subsection. In the Points

edit field, type 1.

7 Locate the Coloring and Style section. From the Color list, choose White.
8 Click the Plot button.

Compare the resulting plot with that shown in Figure 1, top.

Add a surface plot of the surface losses and an arrow plot of the surface current
(Figure 2, top).

3D Plot Group 2
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Results and choose 3D Plot Group.
2 Right-click 3D Plot Group 2 and choose Surface.
3 In the Surface settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of

the Expression section. From the menu, choose Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency
Domain>Heating and losses>Surface resistive losses (emw.Qsrh).
4 Locate the Coloring and Style section. From the Color table list, choose
ThermalEquidistant.
5 In the Model Builder window, right-click 3D Plot Group 2 and choose Arrow Surface.
6 In the Arrow Surface settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right

corner of the Expression section. From the menu, choose Electromagnetic Waves,
Frequency Domain>Currents and charge>Surface current density (emw.Jsx,...,emw.Jsz).
7 Locate the Coloring and Style section. From the Color list, choose Blue.
8 Click the Plot button.
9 Right-click 3D Plot Group 2 and choose Rename.
10 Go to the Rename 3D Plot Group dialog box and type Surface Losses (emw) in

the New name edit field.

11 Click OK.
ROOT

Next, set up a model for the cylindrical cavity.

1 In the Model Builder window, right-click the root node and choose Add Model.
MODEL WIZARD

1 Go to the Model Wizard window.

2 Click Next.

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3 In the Add physics tree, select Radio Frequency>Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency

Domain (emw).
4 Click Next.
5 Find the Studies subsection. In the tree, select Custom Studies>Empty Study.
6 Click Finish.
GEOMETRY 2

Cylinder 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 2 right-click Geometry 2 and choose
Cylinder.
2 In the Cylinder settings window, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Radius edit field, type a_c.
4 In the Height edit field, type height_c.
5 Click the Build All button.

ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES, FREQUENCY DOMAIN 2

Set up the second physics interface. The steps are same as for the first model.

Impedance Boundary Condition 1

1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 2 right-click Electromagnetic Waves,
Frequency Domain 2 and choose Impedance Boundary Condition.

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2 In the Impedance Boundary Condition settings window, locate the Boundary Selection

section.
3 From the Selection list, choose All boundaries.
MATERIALS

Assign material properties on the second model. Set all domains with vacuum.

Material 3
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 2 right-click Materials and choose Material.
2 In the Material settings window, locate the Material Contents section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Property

Name

Value

Relative permittivity

epsilonr

Relative permeability

mur

Electrical conductivity

sigma

4 Right-click Material 3 and choose Rename.

5 Go to the Rename Material dialog box and type Vacuum in the New name edit field.
6 Click OK.

Set all exterior boundaries with a lossy conductive material.

Material 4
1 Right-click Materials and choose Material.
2 In the Material settings window, locate the Geometric Entity Selection section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Boundary.
4 From the Selection list, choose All boundaries.
5 Locate the Material Contents section. In the table, enter the following settings:
Property

Name

Value

Relative permittivity

epsilonr

Electrical conductivity

sigma

sigma_wall

Relative permeability

mur

6 Right-click Model 2>Materials>Material 4 and choose Rename.

7 Go to the Rename Material dialog box and type Lossy Wall in the New name edit

field.

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8 Click OK.

Add variables and two integration coupling operators. The purpose of these are same
as what you have done for the first model.
DEFINITIONS

Integration 3
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 2 right-click Definitions and choose Model
Couplings>Integration.
2 In the Integration settings window, locate the Operator Name section.
3 In the Operator name edit field, type int_v.
4 Locate the Source Selection section. From the Selection list, choose All domains.

Integration 4
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Definitions and choose Model
Couplings>Integration.
2 In the Integration settings window, locate the Operator Name section.
3 In the Operator name edit field, type int_s.
4 Locate the Source Selection section. From the Geometric entity level list, choose
Boundary.
5 From the Selection list, choose All boundaries.

Variables 2a
1 Right-click Definitions and choose Variables.
2 In the Variables settings window, locate the Variables section.
3 Click Load from File.
4 Browse to the models Model Library folder and double-click the file
cavity_resonators_model2_variables.txt.

The emw2. prefix refers to the Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain interface for
the second model.
MESH 2

Apply the same logic in the mesh set up as you have done in the first model.
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 2 right-click Mesh 2 and choose Free
Tetrahedral.

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Size
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 2>Mesh 2 click Size.
2 In the Size settings window, locate the Element Size section.
3 Click the Custom button.
4 Locate the Element Size Parameters section. In the Maximum element size edit field,

type h_max_c/d_f.
5 In the Maximum element growth rate edit field, type 2.
6 In the Resolution of curvature edit field, type 1.
7 In the Resolution of narrow regions edit field, type 0.1.
8 Click the Build All button.
STUDY 2

1 Select both Study 1> Step 1: Eigenfrequency 1 and Study 1> Parametric Sweep 1 using

shift-key. Copy them and paste on Study 2.

Step 1: Eigenfrequency 1
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Study 2 node, then click Step 1:
Eigenfrequency 1.
2 In the Eigenfrequency settings window, locate the Physics and Variables Selection

section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Physics

Solve for

Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain (emw)

Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain 2 (emw2)

Solver 7
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Study 2 and choose Show Default Solver.
2 In the Model Builder window, under Study 2>Solver Configurations>Solver 7 click
Eigenvalue Solver 1.
3 In the Eigenvalue Solver settings window, locate the Values of Linearization Point

section.
4 Find the Value of eigenvalue linearization point subsection. In the Point edit field, type
9e9.

5 In the Model Builder window, right-click Study 2 and choose Compute.

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RESULTS

Electric field 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results right-click Electric field 1 and choose
Arrow Volume.
2 In the Arrow Volume settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right

corner of the Expression section. From the menu, choose Electromagnetic Waves,
Frequency Domain 2>Electric>Electric field (emw2.Ex,emw2.Ey,emw2.Ez).
3 Click the Plot button.
4 In the Model Builder window, right-click Electric field 1 and choose Arrow Volume.
5 In the Arrow Volume settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right

corner of the Expression section. From the menu, choose Electromagnetic Waves,
Frequency Domain 2>Magnetic>Magnetic field (emw2.Hx,emw2.Hy,emw2.Hz).
6 Locate the Arrow Positioning section. Find the z grid points subsection. In the Points

edit field, type 1.

7 Locate the Coloring and Style section. From the Color list, choose White.
8 Click the Plot button.

The plot should now look like that in Figure 1, middle.

Again, add a surface plot of the surface losses and an arrow plot of the surface current
(Figure 2, middle).

3D Plot Group 4
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Results and choose 3D Plot Group.
2 In the 3D Plot Group settings window, locate the Data section.
3 From the Data set list, choose Solution 6.
4 Right-click Results>3D Plot Group 4 and choose Surface.
5 In the Surface settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of

the Expression section. From the menu, choose Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency
Domain 2>Heating and losses>Surface losses (emw2.Qsh).
6 Locate the Coloring and Style section. From the Color table list, choose
ThermalEquidistant.
7 In the Model Builder window, right-click 3D Plot Group 4 and choose Arrow Surface.
8 In the Arrow Surface settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right

corner of the Expression section. From the menu, choose Electromagnetic Waves,

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Frequency Domain 2>Currents and charge>Surface current density

(emw2.Jsx,...,emw2.Jsz).
9 Locate the Coloring and Style section. From the Color list, choose Blue.
10 Right-click 3D Plot Group 4 and choose Rename.
11 Go to the Rename 3D Plot Group dialog box and type Surface Losses (emw2) in

the New name edit field.

12 Click OK.

ROOT

Now add a model for the spherical cavity.

1 In the Model Builder window, right-click the root node and choose Add Model.
MODEL WIZARD

1 Go to the Model Wizard window.

2 Click Next.
3 In the Add physics tree, select Radio Frequency>Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency
Domain (emw).
4 Click Next.
5 Find the Studies subsection. In the tree, select Custom Studies>Empty Study.
6 Click Finish.

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GEOMETRY 3

Sphere 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 3 right-click Geometry 3 and choose
Sphere.
2 In the Sphere settings window, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Radius edit field, type a_s.
4 Click the Build All button.

ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES, FREQUENCY DOMAIN 3

Set up the third physics interface.

Impedance Boundary Condition 1

1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 3 right-click Electromagnetic Waves,
Frequency Domain 3 and choose Impedance Boundary Condition.
2 In the Impedance Boundary Condition settings window, locate the Boundary Selection

section.
3 From the Selection list, choose All boundaries.
MATERIALS

Assign material properties on the model. Set all domains with vacuum.

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Material 5
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 3 right-click Materials and choose Material.
2 In the Material settings window, locate the Material Contents section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Property

Name

Value

Relative permittivity

epsilonr

Relative permeability

mur

Electrical conductivity

sigma

4 Right-click Material 5 and choose Rename.

5 Go to the Rename Material dialog box and type Vacuum in the New name edit field.
6 Click OK.

Set all exterior boundaries with a lossy conductive material.

Material 6
1 Right-click Materials and choose Material.
2 In the Material settings window, locate the Geometric Entity Selection section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Boundary.
4 From the Selection list, choose All boundaries.
5 Locate the Material Contents section. In the table, enter the following settings:
Property

Name

Value

Relative permittivity

epsilonr

Electrical conductivity

sigma

sigma_wall

Relative permeability

mur

6 Right-click Material 6 and choose Rename.

7 Go to the Rename Material dialog box and type Lossy Wall in the New name edit

field.
8 Click OK.
DEFINITIONS

Add variables and two integration coupling operators.

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Integration 5
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 3 right-click Definitions and choose Model
Couplings>Integration.
2 In the Integration settings window, locate the Operator Name section.
3 In the Operator name edit field, type int_v.
4 Locate the Source Selection section. From the Selection list, choose All domains.

Integration 6
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Definitions and choose Model
Couplings>Integration.
2 In the Integration settings window, locate the Operator Name section.
3 In the Operator name edit field, type int_s.
4 Locate the Source Selection section. From the Geometric entity level list, choose
Boundary.
5 From the Selection list, choose All boundaries.

Variables 3a
1 Right-click Definitions and choose Variables.
2 In the Variables settings window, locate the Variables section.
3 Click Load from File.
4 Browse to the models Model Library folder and double-click the file
cavity_resonators_model3_variables.txt.

The emw3. prefix in the imported table is for the physics interface, Electromagnetic
Waves, Frequency Domain, in the third model.
MESH 3

In the Model Builder window, under Model 3 right-click Mesh 3 and choose Free
Tetrahedral.

Size
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 3>Mesh 3 click Size.
2 In the Size settings window, locate the Element Size section.
3 Click the Custom button.
4 Locate the Element Size Parameters section. In the Maximum element size edit field,

type h_max_s/d_f.
5 In the Maximum element growth rate edit field, type 2.

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6 In the Resolution of curvature edit field, type 1.

7 In the Resolution of narrow regions edit field, type 0.1.
8 Click the Build All button.
STUDY 3

1 Select both Study 2> Step 1: Eigenfrequency 1, Study 2>Parametric Sweep 1 using

shift-key. Copy them and paste on Study 3.

Step 1: Eigenfrequency 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Study 3 click Step 1: Eigenfrequency 1.
2 In the Eigenfrequency settings window, locate the Physics and Variables Selection

section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Physics

Solve for

Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain (emw)

Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain 2 (emw2)

Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain 3 (emw3)

Solver 13
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Study 3 and choose Show Default Solver.
2 In the Model Builder window, expand the Study 3>Solver Configurations>Solver 13

node, then click Eigenvalue Solver 1.

3 In the Eigenvalue Solver settings window, locate the Values of Linearization Point

section.
4 Find the Value of eigenvalue linearization point subsection. In the Point edit field, type
9e9.

5 In the Model Builder window, right-click Study 3 and choose Compute.

RESULTS

Electric field 2
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results right-click Electric field 2 and choose
Arrow Volume.
2 In the Arrow Volume settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right

corner of the Expression section. From the menu, choose Electromagnetic Waves,
Frequency Domain 3>Electric>Electric field (emw3.Ex,emw3.Ey,emw3.Ez).

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3 In the Model Builder window, right-click Electric field 2 and choose Arrow Volume.
4 In the Arrow Volume settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right

corner of the Expression section. From the menu, choose Electromagnetic Waves,
Frequency Domain 3>Magnetic>Magnetic field (emw3.Hx,emw3.Hy,emw3.Hz).
5 Locate the Arrow Positioning section. Find the z grid points subsection. In the Points

edit field, type 1.

6 Locate the Coloring and Style section. From the Color list, choose White.
7 Click the Plot button.

Compare the resulting plot with that shown in Figure 1, bottom.

Again, add a surface plot of the surface losses and an arrow plot of the surface current
(Figure 2, bottom).

3D Plot Group 6
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Results and choose 3D Plot Group.
2 In the 3D Plot Group settings window, locate the Data section.
3 From the Data set list, choose Solution 12.
4 Right-click Results>3D Plot Group 6 and choose Surface.
5 In the Surface settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of

the Expression section. From the menu, choose Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency
Domain 3>Heating and losses>Surface losses (emw3.Qsh).
6 Locate the Coloring and Style section. From the Color table list, choose
ThermalEquidistant.
7 In the Model Builder window, right-click 3D Plot Group 6 and choose Arrow Surface.
8 In the Arrow Surface settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right

corner of the Expression section. From the menu, choose Electromagnetic Waves,
Frequency Domain 3>Currents and charge>Surface current density
(emw3.Jsx,...,emw3.Jsz).
9 Locate the Coloring and Style section. From the Color list, choose Blue.
10 Right-click 3D Plot Group 6 and choose Rename.
11 Go to the Rename 3D Plot Group dialog box and type Surface Losses (emw3) in

the New name edit field.

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12 Click OK.

Derived Values
Finish by evaluating the Q-factor and resonant frequency. Compare them with those
values in Table 1, Table 2 and Table 3.
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results right-click Derived Values and choose
Global Evaluation.
2 In the Global Evaluation settings window, locate the Data section.
3 From the Data set list, choose Solution 2.
4 From the Eigenfrequency selection list, choose First.
5 From the Table columns list, choose Inner solutions.
6 Click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of the Expression section. From

the menu, choose Definitions>Q-factor, computed from eigenvalue (Q_computed).

7 Click the Evaluate button.
8 In the Global Evaluation settings window, locate the Data section.
9 From the Data set list, choose Solution 6.
10 Click the Evaluate button.
11 In the Global Evaluation settings window, locate the Data section.
12 From the Data set list, choose Solution 12.

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13 Click the Evaluate button.

14 In the Model Builder window, under Results>Derived Values right-click Global
Evaluation 1 and choose Duplicate.
15 In the Global Evaluation settings window, locate the Data section.
16 From the Data set list, choose Solution 2.
17 Click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of the Expression section. From

the menu, choose Definitions>Q-factor, definition (Q_definition).

18 Right-click Results>Derived Values>Global Evaluation 2 and choose Evaluate>New
Table.
19 In the Global Evaluation settings window, locate the Data section.
20 From the Data set list, choose Solution 6.
21 Click the Evaluate button.
22 In the Global Evaluation settings window, locate the Data section.
23 From the Data set list, choose Solution 12.
24 Click the Evaluate button.
25 In the Model Builder window, under Results>Derived Values right-click Global
Evaluation 1 and choose Duplicate.
26 In the Global Evaluation settings window, locate the Data section.
27 From the Data set list, choose Solution 2.
28 Click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of the Expression section. From

the menu, choose Definitions>Frequency, simulated (frequency).

29 Right-click Results>Derived Values>Global Evaluation 3 and choose Evaluate>New
Table.
30 In the Global Evaluation settings window, locate the Data section.
31 From the Data set list, choose Solution 6.
32 Click the Evaluate button.
33 From the Data set list, choose Solution 12.
34 Click the Evaluate button.

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COMPUTING Q-FACTORS AND RESONANT FREQUENCIES OF CAVITY RESONATORS 2012 COMSOL