WAVEGUIDES

WAVEGUIDES
Topic 13

School of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering

Mapua Institute of Technology
Muralla St., Intramuros, Manila 1002 Philippines

Abstract — Topic 13 focuses on waveguides and Waveguide do not support TEM waves
how it will propagate in the field. It also inside because of boundary conditions. Waves
discussed the significance of waveguides travel zig-zag down the waveguide by bouncing
especially in a very high frequencies operation. from one wall to the other.
In this topic, the different waveguide accessories
were also discussed as well as the basic Most high-power microwave energy
principles in mathematical approach of transmission above about 6 GHz is handled by
dielectric waveguides. waveguides. Most waveguides are rectangular.
Waveguides can be used to carry energy
Keywords —Waveguide, Rectangular
between pieces of equipment or over longer
Waveguides, TE mode, TM mode Circular
distances to carry. Wave guides are made of
Waveguides, Planar Waveguides, Signal
copper, aluminum, or brass. These metals are
Injection, Waveguide Cutoff Frequency,
extruded into longer rectangular or circular
Dielectric Waveguide
pipes. Often the insides of waveguides are plated
with silver to reduce resistance, keeping
transmission losses to a very low level.
WAVEGUIDES
JJ Thomson (discoverer of electron) in
1893 proposed structure for guiding waves later RECTANGULAR WAVEGUIDES
tested by OJ Lodge in 1894. A metallic waveguide consists of a
A specially constructed hollow metallic dielectric material such as air surrounded by
pipes or system of conductors and insulators for metallic material, such as copper, in which
carrying electromagnetic waves. oscillating electromagnetic energy is propagated
at a frequency higher than a certain value known
They are used for microwave as the cut-off frequency. Fc = c/2a is valid only
frequencies for the same purposes as for air-filled waveguide propagating signal at the
transmission lines were used for lower dominant mode of TE10.
frequencies.
Reason for using waveguide rather than
coaxial cable at microwave frequency:

 Easier to fabricate
 No solid dielectric and power losses
 Power handling
 Figure 1: An actual Rectangular Waveguide
Accesory

Figure 3: Graph for Dominant Mode Operation

The most natural mode of operation for
a waveguide, this mode is the lowest possible
frequency that can be propagated. For a
waveguide’s mode of operation, the two
submodes are:

 TEmn for the transverse electric

mode.
Figure 2: Rectangular Waveguides in Vectors
 TMmn for the transverse magnetic
mode
TE AND TM MODES
In Figure 3, the m is the number of half-
TEmn mode has the E-field entirely wavelength across waveguide width (a
transverse, i.e. perpendicular, to the direction of dimension). The n is the number of half-
propagation. TMmn mode has the H-field wavelength along waveguide height (b
entirely transverse to the direction of dimension).
propagation.
All TEmn and TMmn modes are
theoretically permissible except, in a rectangular E-Field Pattern for TE10 Mode
waveguide, TMm0 or TM0n modes are not
TEmn means there are m number of half-
possible since the magnetic field must form a
wave variations of the transverse E-field along
closed loop.
the “a” side and n number of half-wave
In practice, only the dominant mode, variations along the “b” side. The magnetic field
TE10 is used, where a > b; in some reviewers (not shown) forms closed loops horizontally
TE01 this is for a < b; for cylindrical w.g. TE11 around the E-field.

DOMINANT MODE OF OPERATION

Figure 4: The Tem Pattern

 OTHER FORMULAS FOR TE AND TM
MODES
Figure 5: The TE and TM mode
Group Velocity:
fdf
WAVELENGTH FOR TE AND TM MODES
Any signal with λ > λc will not propagate down
the waveguide. For air-filled waveguide, cutoff
freq., fc = c/λc. TE10 is called the dominant mode Phase Velocity:
since λc = 2a is the longest wavelength of any
mode, where a > b.
Cutoff wavelength:
2 Wave Impedance:
λ c=
2 2

(√ ma ) +( nb )
Guide wavelength:
λ λ
λ g= =
2 2
λ f
√ 1−
( )
λc √ ( )
1− c
f Where Zo = 377 ohms for air-filled waveguide.

All equations in SI units CIRCULAR/CYLINDRICAL

WAVEGUIDES
Dominant Mode - mode where the signal
propagates in a given wave guide at the lowest Differences versus rectangular waveguides :
possible frequency.
 lc = 2pr/Bnm where r = waveguide
λo = 1.7d is valid only for an air-filled radius, and Bnm is obtained from
waveguide propagating signal at the dominant table of Bessel functions.
mode of TE11.  All TEnm and TMnm modes are
supported since m and n subscripts
are defined differently.
 Dominant mode is TE11.
Advantages: higher power-handling capacity,  Quick, medium loss, connection of
lower attenuation for a given cutoff wavelength. metallic waveguides at mm-
Disadvantages: larger and heavier.
wavelengths
 Dielectric rod of rectangular or
circular cross section made from
High Density Polyethylene HDPE
CYLINDRICAL ~TEnm MODE
and Teflon PTFE
λo = 1.7d is valid only for an air-filled  Compromise between “large”
waveguide propagating signal at the dominant metallic guides and high-loss
mode of TE11. microstrip and similar guides

pth 0 of the Bessel Function of the 1st Kind

Figure 6: Field Patterns for Rectangular and

Circular Waveguide

PLANAR WAVEGUIDE
Also called lab waveguides, consists of
TYPES OF WAVEGUIDES three layers of materials with different dielectric
constants, extending infinitely in the directions
A dielectric waveguide is a waveguide parallel to their interfaces.
that consists of a dielectric material surrounded
by another dielectric material, such as air, glass,
or plastic, with a lower refractive index.
Ridged waveguide allows use for a
given size at lower frequencies
Flexible waveguide is used for special
applications, e.g.: temporary connections such as
during equipment testing.
Figure 7: Planar Waveguide

Advantage of dielectric wave guides

SIGNAL INJECTION AND EXTRACTION

A microwave signal to be carried by a
waveguide is introduced into one end of the
waveguide with an antennalike probe that
creates an electromagnetic wave that propagates
through the waveguide.
The probe is a one-quarter wavelength vertical
antenna at the signal frequency that is inserted in
the waveguide one-quarter wavelength from the
end which is closed.
The loop is mounted in the closed end of the
waveguide. Microwave energy applied through a Figure 10: Rectangular Waveguide Dimension
short piece of coaxial cable causes magnetic The dimensions of a waveguide
filed to be set up in the loop. determine its operating frequency range. The
Probes an loops can also be used to extract a frequency of operation of a waveguide is
signal from a waveguide. determined by the size of a. This dimension is
usually made equal to one-half wavelength, a bit
below the lowest frequency of operation. This is
known as the Waveguide Cutoff Frequency. In
Waveguide Cutoff Frequency, at its cutoff
frequency and below, a waveguide will not
transmit energy. At frequencies above the cutoff
frequency, a waveguide will propagate
electromagnetic energy.
A waveguide is essentially a high-pass
filter with a cutoff frequency equal to:
300
f co=
Figure 8: The probe 2a
Where f is equals to Megahertz and a is in
meters.
For circular waveguide pattern, the cutoff
formula for this pattern is:
1.8412 C
f co=
2π r

Figure 9: The loop

WAVEGUIDE SIZE AND FREQUENCY

 DIELECTRIC WAVEGUIDE
A dielectric waveguide is a waveguide
that consists of a dielectric material surrounded
by another dielectric material such as air, glass,
or plastic, with a lower refractive index. An
example of a dielectric waveguide is an optical
fiber.
ADVANTAGE OF DIELECTRIC WAVE
GUIDES:
Figure 11: Circular Waveguide
• Quick, medium loss, connection of
metallic waveguides at mm-
wavelengths.
SAMPLE PROBLEM:
• Dielectric rod of rectangular or circular
A rectangular waveguide has a width of 0.65 in
cross section made from High Density
and a height of 0.38 in. (a) What is the cutoff
Polyethylene HDPE and Teflon PTFE.
frequency? (b) What is a typical operating
frequency for this waveguide? • Compromise between “large” metallic
guides and high-loss microstrip and
similar guides.
Ridged Waveguide allows use for a given size
at a lower frequency.
Flexible Waveguide is used for special
applications such as temporary connections
during equipment testing.

Snell’s Law of Reflection:

θi=θr
Snell’s Law of Refraction:

Figure 12: Waveguide travel patterns

Critical Angle: Critical Angle:

Snell’s Law of Refraction:

SAMPLE PROBLEM:
When the incident angle is greater than the
A slab of dielectric with index of refraction 3.00
critical angle, the wave is totally reflected back
sits in air. What is the relative
and this phenomenon is known as Total Internal
permittivity of the dielectric? At what angle
Reflection.
from a normal to the boundary will
Index of refraction n is the ration of the speed light be totally reflected within the dielectric?
of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in the
unbounded medium or:

Where:

In nonmagnetic material:

Snell’s Law of Refraction can be expressed in

terms of refractive index:
WAVEGUIDE HARDWARE AND A CONNECTION JOINTS or a
ACCESSORIES CHOKE JOINTS is used to interconnect two
sections of waveguide. It consists of two flanges
In some ways, waveguides have more in
connected to the waveguide at the center. The
common with plumbing equipment than they do
right-hand flange is flat, and the one at the left is
with the standard transmission lines used in
slotted one- quarter wavelength deep at a
radio communication. And, like plumbing,
distance of one-quarter wavelength from the
waveguides have a variety of special parts, such
point at which the walls of the guide are joined.
as couplers, turns, joints, rotary connections, and
The one-quarter waves together become a half
terminations.
wave and reflect a short circuit at the place
Most waveguides and their fi ttings are precision where the walls are joined.
made so that the dimensions match perfectly.
Any mismatch in dimensions or misalignment of
pieces that fit together will introduce significant
losses and reflections.
Waveguides are available in a variety of
standard lengths that are interconnected to form
a path between a microwave generator and its
ultimate destination.

Figure 13: Connection Joints

Special curved waveguide sections are available
for making 90 o bends.

CURVED SECTIONS introduce

reflections and power loss, but these are kept
small by proper design. When the radius of the
curved section is greater than 2 λ at the signal
frequency, losses are minimized. Flanges are
used to connect curve sections with straight
runs.

Figure 12: Actual Waveguide Accessories

Figure 14: Curved Sections
T-SECTIONS is occasionally necessary In many cases, TERMINATION is
to split or combine two or more sources of necessary to terminate the end of an unused port
microwave power. It is done with T Sections or of a waveguide. One approach to termination is
T Joints. The T can be formed on the short of to insert a pyramid-shaped metallic section in
long side of the waveguide. If the junction is the end of the line. The taper provides a correct
formed on the short side, it is called shunt T. If match. Usually the tapered section is movable so
the junction is formed on the long side, it is that the termination can be adjusted for
called series T. Each T section has three ports, minimum SWR. It is also possible to fill with a
which can be used as inputs of outputs. powdered graphite resistive material as this
absorbs the signal and dissipates it as heat so
that no reflections occur.

Figure 15: T-Sections

A special device called HYBRID T can

be formed by combining the series and shunt T
sections. It is sometimes called as the MAGIC T
since this device is used as a duplexer to permit
simultaneous use of a single antenna by both
transmitter and receiver.
Figure 17: Termination Accessories

One of the most commonly used

waveguide components is the DIRECTIONAL
COUPLERS. Directional couplers are used to
facilitate the measurement of microwave power
in a waveguide and the SWR. They can also be
used to tap off a small portion of a high-power
microwave signal to be sent to another circuit or
piece of equipment. The directional coupler
shown in the picture is simply a short segment
Figure 16: Hybrid T of waveguide with coupling joints that are
designed to be inserted into a longer run of
waveguide between a transmitter and an antenna
or between some source and load.
REFERENCES
[1] Comm 3 Lecture Notes by Engr. Jose B.
Cardenas
Principles of Electronic Communication
Systems [4th ed.] by Louis Frenzel

Figure 18: Directional Coupler Schematic