Waveguides

Learning Objectives
Develop equations governing wave
propagation in rectangular waveguide
Describe propagation modes, cutoff
frequency, impedance and wave
propagation in rectangular waveguide
 Types of Waveguide
Metallic waveguide
Rectangular waveguide
High power microwave applications
Relatively simple to fabricate
Much less attenuation than coaxial
Limited freq range
Suffer from dispersion
Cylindrical waveguide
Even higher power handling capability
 Waveguide structures include (a) rectangular waveguide, (b)
circular waveguide, (c) dielectric slab waveguide, and (d) fiber
optic waveguide.
 Types of Waveguide
Dielectric waveguide
Much smaller loss than metallic waveguide at
high frequencies
Optical fiber
Tremendous bandwidth advantage over metallic
waveguide
Good signal isolation between adjacent fibers
despite the absence of metallic boundary
Workhorse in the communications industry
 Rectangular Waveguide
Fundamentals
Conducting walls typically brass, copper
or aluminum
Several skin depths thick over frequency
range + mechanical rigidity (1-3 mm)
Inside may be electroplated with gold or
silver for improved performance
Dimensions a b (a longer side)
a determines frequency range of dominant mode
b affects attenuation (smaller higher attenuation),
max power capacity
Typically a/2
Fig 7.2: Cross section of rectangular waveguide.
 Can support TE and TM modes but not
TEM
TE: electric field is transverse and some
magnetic field in direction of propagation
TM: magnetic field is transverse and some
electric field in direction of propagation
Order of the mode refers to field configuration
TEmn, TMmn
m number of half-wave variation in x direction
n number of half-wave variation in y direction
m,n and a,b determines cutoff frequency
 2 2
1 m n
f cmn
2 a b

Conventional rectangular waveguide filled with

air, where a = 2b, lowest order mode is TE10 with
cutoff frequency fc10 = c/2a
Relative frequencies of the first 12 modes of this
waveguide is shown in the next figure
Maybe more than one mode at one frequency
No modes where both m and n are zero
No TM modes with either m or n equal to zero
Location of modes relative to the dominant TE10 mode in
standard rectangular waveguide where a = 2b.
 Cited useful frequency range starts somewhat above the
value of fc10 and ends somewhat below the value of the
next mode
TE10 and TE20 modes shown in the next figure
E only varies in x direction; since n = 0, field is constant in y
direction
Electric field for
TE10 has a half sine wave pattern
TE20 has a full sine wave pattern
 The field patterns and associated field intensities in a cross
section of rectangular waveguide for (a) TE10 and (b) TE20.
Solid lines indicate electric field; dashed lines are the magnetic
field.
 Example 1
Lets calculate the cutoff frequency for the first four
modes of WR284 waveguide.

From table, a = 2.84 and b = 1.34 inches (a = 7.214 and

b = 3.404 cm)

fc10 reduces to c/2a = 2.08 GHz

fc01 reduces to c/2b = 4.41 GHz
fc20 reduces to c/a = 4.16 GHz
fc11 use full equation = 4.87 GHz
 Wave Propagation
Consider the wave to
be superposition of a
pair of TEM waves.
Bold: constant phase at
max of field +E0
Light: constant phase at
min of field E0
Propagates at velocity
of uu (u: unbounded)

(a) A y-polarized TEM plane wave propagates in the +z

direction. (b) Wavefront view of the propagating wave.
We take two identical y-polarized TEM waves, rotate one by +
and the other by as shown in (a), and combine them in (b).
 We know E = 0 on a perfect conductor, we can
replace horizontal lines of zero field with perfect
conducting walls
Now u+ and u- are reflected off the walls as they
propagate along the guide
Distance separating adjacent zero-field lines or
separating the conducting walls is given as a
Distance a is determined by angle and by distance
between adjacent peaks (or wavelength)
For a given wave velocity uu, f = uu/
 If we fix a and change f, we must then also
change the angle to maintain a propagating
wave
Edge of E+ (point A) will line up with edge of E-
(point B), the two must be /2 apart for the m = 1
mode
For any value of m, by trigonometry sin m 2
a
or
2a uu
sin
m f
 Waveguide can support propagation as long as
wavelength is smaller than a critical value that
occurs at = 90, given by

2a uu
c
m fc
where fc is the cutoff freq for propagating mode
Combining previous 2 equations we can relate
to the operating freq and cutoff freq by

fc
sin
c f
 From previous figure, time it takes to move from
A to C
l AC m 2
t AC
uu uu

Meanwhile, a constant phase point moves along

the wall from A to D, call this phase velocity up
and given distance
m 2
l AD
cos
We have time to travel from A to D of
l AD m 2
t AD
u p u p cos
 Since times AD and AC must be equal
uu
up
cos
We can use our relation to arrive at
uu
up
2
1 fc
f

This says that the phase velocity can be

considerably faster than the velocity of the wave
in unbounded media, tending toward infinity as f
approaches fc.
 The phase constant associated with this phase
velocity is
2
u 1 f c f

where u is the phase constant in unbounded
media
The wavelength in the guide media is related to
this phase velocity by = 2/, or
u

2
1 fc
f

 The propagation velocity of the superposed wave
is given by the group velocity uG. From figure it
is apparent that
uG uu cos
This uG is slower than that of the unguided
wave, which is to be expected since the guided
wave propagates in a zig-zag path.
2
uG u u 1 fc
f

 Waveguide Impedance
Ratio of transverse electric field to transverse
magnetic for a propagating mode at a particular
freq
Also referred to as transverse wave impedance
Useful term for problems involving for instance
reflection from loads
For TE mode u
Z TE
mn
2
1
fc
f
where u is the intrinsic impedance of
propagating media. In air u = 0 =120
 For TM mode
2
Z TM
u 1 fc
mn f

 Example 2
Lets determine the TE mode impedance looking
into a 20 cm long section of shorted WR90
waveguide operating at 10GHz

At 10GHz only TE10 is supported.

Calculate Z10TE = 500

Calculate Zin = jZ0tan(l) = jZ10TEtan(l) = j100

 Waveguide Field Equations
Begin with Maxwells eqs, we want to develop time
harmonic field eqs for rectangular waveguide
For simplicity, assume guide filled with lossless,
charge-free media and walls are perfect conductors
Phasor form of Maxwells eqs become

Es 0
Hs 0 7.17
Es jH s
H s jEs
 For waveguide cross section of fig 7.2, the
components in Cartesian coordinates are
Es E xs a x E ys a y E zs a z
H s H xs a x H ys a y H zs a z
7.18
Inserting 7.18, we can expand 7.17 to a set of
eight equations. The 4 that we need are
E zs E ys
jH xs
y z
E xs E zs
jH ys
z x
H zs H ys
jE xs
y z
H xs H zs
jE ys
z x
 Now consider that fields only propagate in +z
direction with velocity uG and phase constant .
We have for instance
j z
E xs E x e
Although Exs is a function of position (x,y,z). Ex is
a phasor that is only a function of x and y. To
indicate the difference and for brevity, we drop
the s subscript.
The partial derivative of Exs is

E xs j z
j E x e
z
 The other field components and their partial
derivatives can written in a similar way. e-jz can be
eliminated since it appear in every component.
E z
j E y jH x 7.23
y
E z
j E x jH y 7.24
x
H z
j H y jE x 7.25
y
H z
j H x jE y 7.26
x
Using these eqs, we can find expressions for the 4
transverse components. For instance, solving 7.23 for
Hx j E z
Hx Ey
y
 Inserting this value of Hx into 7.26, we can solve for Ey
as
H z E z
j j
x y
Ey 7.27
u2 2

where, for lossless propagating media we have

u
If we solve 7.26 for Ey and insert into 7.23, we have
E z H z
j j 7.28
y x
Hx
u2 2
 In a similar way, using 7.24 and 7.25 we would find
H z E z
j j
y x 7.29
Ex
u2 2
and
E z H z
j j
x y 7.30
Hy
u2 2
Now if we consider a TM mode, then Hz = 0. We would
solve for Ez, then use 7.27 through 7.30 to find
transverse components
Likewise for TE mode, we would solve for Hz before
finding the transverse components
 TM mode
Well first look at TM mode, where Hz = 0, and find
expression for Ez. The Helmholtz eq for propagation of
E field in a lossless medium can be written as
2 Es u2 Es 0
Expanding this eq for our z propagating field

2 Ez 2 Ez
x 2

y 2

u Ez 0
2 2
7.32

To solve this eq we use method of separation of

variables assuming
E z x, y XY 7.33
 Here Ez can be expressed as a product of a function
X, which only depends on x, and a function Y, which
only depends on y. Using 7.33 to expand 7.32

Y
d2X
dx 2
X
d 2Y
dy 2
2
u
2
XY 0 7.34

Dividing both sides of 7.34 by XY and rearranging

2 2
1 d X 1 d Y
u
2 2
2
7.35
X dx Y dy 2

Notice that 2nd term on RHS of 7.35 only depends on x

and the 3rd term only depends on y. For this to be true
for all values of x and y, each of these terms must be
constant
 It will be convenient to express the constants as
2
1 d X
7.36 x
2

X dx 2
and
2
1 d Y
y
2
7.37 Y dy 2
and 7.35 becomes

2
u
2
x
2
y

We can use 7.36 to solve for X and then employ our

boundary conditions at the x = 0 and x = a walls of the
waveguide to find x. Likewise, we can solve for Y from
7.37 and use the boundary conditions at Y = 0 and Y =
b to solve for y
 First, we have
d2X
2
x X 0
2

dx

This differential eq has the general solution

X c1 cos x x c2 sin x x
where c1 and c2 are constants
Now, we know that the tangential E fields at the walls
must be zero. This means the function X must equal
zero for x = 0 and x = a. Applying X = 0 at x = 0, we
immediately see that c1 = 0. Also, since X = 0 at x = a,
we have
0 c2 sin x a
which is true whenever
x a m
(m = 0, 1, 2, 3,). Therefore, we have
m
x
a
Likewise,
d 2Y
2
yY 0
2

dy
has the general solution
Y c3 cos y y c4 sin y y

and since Y = 0 at y = 0 and y = b, we realize c3 = 0

and
n
y
b
 (n = 0, 1, 2, 3,). The waveguide phase constant is
then seen to be
2 2
m n
7.41 2
u
a b
It may be noted that as long as argument inside the
sqrt of 7.41 is positive, then propagation will proceed in
z direction
The general solution for the z-directed E field for TM
mode propagation is therefore

mx nx jz
7.42 E zs E0 sin sin e
a b
where E0 is the product of c2 and c4
 We can now find the transverse field components by
using 7.27 to 7.30 and reinserting the e-jz term.
Evaluating the derivative of 7.42 with respect to y
E zs n mx ny jz
E0 sin cos e
y b a b
Inserting this into 7.27 and 7.28 (with Hz = 0)
j n mx ny jz
E ys 2 2 E0 sin cos e
u b a b
and
j n mx ny jz
H xs 2 2 E0 sin cos e
u b a b
 The derivative with respect to x is
E zs m mx ny jz
E0 cos sin e
x a a b
Inserting this into 7.29 and 7.30
j n mx ny jz
E xs 2 0
E cos sin e
u b
2
a b
and
j n mx ny jz
H ys 2 2 E0 cos sin e
u b a b
Inspection of these TM field components shows that if
either m or n is equal to zero, then all the fields will be
zero as well. Therefore, TM11 mode is the first viable
TM mode
 Lets find the instantaneous expressions for TM 11
mode for an air-filled waveguide. The first component
is found by applying
E z x, y, z , t Re E zs e jt
to 7.42. We find
x y
E z x, y, z , t E0 sin sin cos t z
a b
To find Ey(x,y,z,t), we first consider that j can be
written as e-j90. After reinserting ejt and taking the real
part, we have the term cos(t-z-90), which is equal
to sin(t-z). So we have
x y
E y x, y , z , t 2 E0 sin cos sin t z
u b
2
a b
 The other components are found similarly to be

x y
H x x, y , z , t 2 E0 sin cos sin t z
u b2
a b
x y
E x x, y , z , t 2 E0 cos sin sin t z
u a
2
a b
x y
H y x, y , z , t 2 E0 cos sin sin t z
u a
2
a b
TM11 field distribution inside rectangular waveguide. Adjacent to
the left-column contour plots are conventional plots taken across
the middle of the guide. The contour plot has been modified with
heavier lines representing larger magnitudes.
 TE mode
Solution for TE case proceeds exactly as the TM case
up to the point where boundary conditions are applied.
We begin with the Helmholtz wave eq
2 H s u2 H s 0
and eventually reach the expression
H zs XYe jz
where
X c1 cos x x c2 sin x x
and
Y c3 cos y y c4 sin y y
 We again apply boundary conditions that tangential E
must be zero at the conductive walls. This means that
for x = 0 and x = a, Ey = 0 and Ez = 0 for TE modes, it
is apparent from 7.27 that at these 2 boundaries for x
we must have H z
0
x
Since the only portion of Hzs that varies with x in 7.54 in
the X part, we can apply our x = 0 boundary condition
to 7.55 to get
dX
dx x c1 sin x x x c2 cos x x 0
x 0

This is true only for c2 = 0. Applying the x = a boundary

condition to 7.55, we have
dX
x c1 sin x a 0
dx x 0
 which is true for xa = m (m = 0, 1, 2, 3). This gives the
same value for x that we have for TM case
Since c2 = 0, we have dX
x c1 sin x x 0
dx
After integrating, we have
x c1 cos x x
At y = 0 and y = b, the boundary conditions are that Ex =
0. Using this in conjunction with 7.29 we find at these
boundaries that
H z
0
y
Since the only portion of Hz that varies with y is Y, from
7.56 we find for the first boundary condition
 dY
dy y c3 sin y y y c4 cos y y 0
y 0

From this we see that c4 = 0. Finally,

dY
dy y c3 sin x y 0
y 0

Means that yb = n (n = 0, 1, 2, 3,). This gives the

same value for y found for the TM case
y c3 sin y y 0
So for dY
dy
We integrate to get
Y c3 cos y y 0
 The z-directed magnetic field is therefore
mx nx jz
H zs H 0 cos cos e
a b
where H0 is the product of c1 and c3
The other field components from 7.27 to 7.30 are as
follows j m mx ny jz
E ys H 0 sin cos e
a
2
u
2
a b

j m mx ny jz
H xs 2 2 H 0 sin cos e
u a a b

j n mx ny jz
E xs 2 2 H 0 cos sin e
u b a b

j n mx ny jz
H ys 2 2 H 0 cos sin e
u b a b
 As with TM case, we see that if both m and n are zero
then all fields disappear.
But we do have fields if only one of m or n is zero. For
instance, for the TE10 mode, since n = 0 there will be
no Exs and Hys.
The instantaneous expressions for the rest of the
fields for the TE10 mode are as follows
x
H z x, y, z , t H 0 cos cos t z
a
x
E y x, y , z , t 2 H 0 sin sin t z
u a 2
a
x
H x x, y , z , t 2 H 0 sin sin t z
u a
2
a
TE10 field plots are
constant in the y
direction.