ECE 5317-6351

Microwave Engineering
Fall 2012
Prof. David R. Jackson
Dept. of ECE

Notes 7
Waveguides Part 4:
Rectangular and Circular
Waveguide

1
 Rectangular Waveguide

y PEC
 One of the earliest waveguides.
 Still common for high power and high b
microwave / millimeter-wave applications. , ,
o x
z o a

 It is essentially an electromagnetic pipe

For convenience
with a rectangular cross-section.
 a  b.
 the long dimension
Single conductor No TEM mode lies along x.

2
 TEz Modes
Recall

H z  x, y, z   hz  x, y  e jk z z
y PEC

b
where
, ,
  2
 2
2
 2   k c  hz  x, y   0 o x
 x y
2
 z o a

kc   k 2  k z2 
1/2

Subject to B.C.’s:
H z @ y  0, b
Ex  0 
y
H z
and Ey  0  @ x  0, a
x
3
 TEz Modes (cont.)
 2 2 
 2  2 
h  x , y    k 2
hz  x, y  (eigenvalue problem)
 x y 
z c

Using separation of variables, let hz  x, y   X  x Y  y 

d2X d 2Y
Y 2
 X 2
  k 2
c XY
dx dy
Must be a constant

1 d 2 X 1 d 2Y
    k 2
c
X dx 2 Y dy 2

1 d2X 1 d 2Y
   k 2
x and   k 2
y
X dx 2 Y dy 2

where k x2  k y2  kc2 dispersion relationship

4
 TEz Modes (cont.)
Hence,
X ( x) Y ( y)

hz  x, y   ( A cos k x x  B sin k x x)(C cos k y y  D sin k y y )

hz
Boundary Conditions: 0 @ y  0, b A
y
hz @ x  0, a
0 B
x
n
A  D0 and ky  n  0,1,2,...
b
m
B  B0 and kx  m  0,1,2,...
a
 m x   n y   m   n 
2 2

 hz  x, y   Amn cos   cos   and kc2     

 a   b   a   b 
5
 TEz Modes (cont.)
Therefore,
 m   n  k z  k 2  kc2
H z  Amn cos  x  cos  y e jk z z

 a   b   m   n 
2 2

 k 
2
  
 a   b 

From the previous field-representation equations,

we can show
j n  m   n  jk z z
Ex  Amn cos  x  sin  y e Note:
kc2b  a   b 
j m  m   n  jk z z m = 0,1,2,…
Ey   A sin  x  cos  y e
2
kc a
mn
 a   b  n = 0,1,2,…
jk z m  m
  n 
Hx   Amn 
x  cos 
sin y e jk z z
But m = n = 0
kc2 a  a
  b  is not allowed!
jk n  m   n 
H y   z2 Amn cos  x  sin  y e jk z z
(non-physical solution)
kc b  a   b 
 H  zˆ A00e jkz
; H  0
6
 TEz Modes (cont.)
Lossless Case   c      

 m   n 
2 2

k zmn  k 2   k c 
mn 2
 k2    
 a   b 

 TEmn mode is at cutoff when k  kcmn

2 2
1 m n
f mn
    
2   a   b 
c

Lowest cutoff frequency is for TE10 mode (a > b)

1
We will f c10  Dominant TE mode
revisit this 2a 
(lowest fc)
mode.
7
 TEz Modes (cont.)
At the cutoff frequency of the TE10 mode (lossless waveguide):

1
f 10

2a 
c

cd cd cd
    10   2a
f fc 1
2a 

a f  fc
 d / 2

For a given operating wavelength (corresponding to f > fc) , the dimension

a must be at least this big in order for the TE10 mode to propagate.

Example: Air-filled waveguide, f = 10 GHz. We have that a > 3.0 cm/2 = 1.5 cm.

8
 TMz Modes
Recall y PEC

Ez  x, y, z   ez  x, y  e jk z z
b
, ,
o x
where z o a
kc   k  k
2

2 1/2
z

 2 2 
 2 2  z
e  x , y    k c ez  x , y 
2
(eigenvalue problem)
 x y 

Subject to B.C.’s: Ez  0 @ x  0, a

@ y  0, b

Thus, following same procedure as before, we have the following result:

9
 TMz Modes (cont.)
X ( x) Y ( y)

ez  x, y   ( A cos k x x  B sin k x x)(C cos k y y  D sin k y y )

Boundary Conditions: ez  0 @ y  0, b A

@ x  0, a B

n
A  C 0 and ky  n  0,1,2,...
b
m
B  A0 and kx  m  0,1,2,...
a

 m   n   m   n 
2 2

 ez  Bmn sin  x  sin  y and kc2     

 a   b   a   b 
10
 TMz Modes (cont.)

Therefore
k z  k 2  kc2
 m   n 
Ez  Bmn sin  x  sin  y e jk z z
 m   n 
2

 a   b   k 
2
  
 a   b 

From the previous field-representation equations, m=1,2,3,…

we can show n =1,2,3,…

j c n  m   n  jk z z
Hx  Bmn sin  x  cos  y e
kc2b  a   b 
j c m  m   n  jkz z
Hy   Bmn cos  x  sin  y e Note: If either m or n is
 a   b 
2
kc a
zero, the field becomes
jk z m  m
  n  a trivial one in the TMz
Ex  B cos 
x  sin  y e jk z z

kc2 a
mn
 a
  b  case.
jk n  m   n 
E y   z2 Bmn sin  x  cos  y e jk z z

kc b  a   b 
11
 TMz Modes (cont.)
Lossless Case   c      

 m   n 
2 2 (same as for
 mn  k   k
2 mn 2
c   k2     TE modes)
 a   b 

2 2
m n
1
f cmn     
2   a   b 

Lowest cutoff frequency is for the TM11 mode

2 2
1 1 1
f c11      Dominant TM mode
2   a   b  (lowest fc)

12
 Mode Chart
y PEC

Two cases are considered:

b
, ,
o x
b < a/2 z o a
Single mode operation a>b
f
TE10 TE 20 TE 01 TE11
TM11 The maximum band for single
mode operation is 2 fc10.

b > a/2 ba/2

Single mode operation

f 1 m n
2 2
TE10 TE 01 TE 20 
TE11 f cmn    
TM11 2   a   b 
13
 Dominant Mode: TE10 Mode
PEC
For this mode we have y


m  1, n  0, kc  b
a , ,

Hence we have o x
z o a
 
H z  A10 cos  x e jk z z
 
2
a  kz  k 2   
a
kz a  
Hx   j A10 sin  x  e jkz z
 a 
 
j a   E y  E10 sin  x e jk z z

Ey   A10 sin  x  e jk z z a 
 a 

E10 A10  E10
j a
Ex  Ez  H y  0
14
Dispersion Diagram for TE10 Mode
Lossless Case   c      
 
2

f  fc kz    k   
2

a

2
g 
vg  slope 

 c10 1
(“Light line”)

v p  slope



Phase velocity: v p 
 Velocities are slopes on the
d dispersion plot.
Group velocity: vg 
d
15
 Field Plots for TE10 Mode

y PEC
Top view
b
, ,
o x
z o a

x E
z a
H
y y

b
b
x
a z
End view Side view
16
 Field Plots for TE10 Mode (cont.)
y PEC

b
Top view , ,
o x
z o a

x Js
z a
H
y y

b b
x z
a
Side view
End view
17
 Power Flow for TE10 Mode
Time-average power flow in the z direction:

1  
a b
P  Re     E  H   zˆ dydx 
 *
Note:
10
2x 
2 0 0 
a b
ab
0 0  a 
sin dydx 
2
1  
a b
 Re     E y H x* dydx 
2 0 0 
 a 3 A10 b
2

 Re k z 
4 2

In terms of amplitude of the field amplitude, we have

 ab  

P  Re k z  E10
2
 A10  E10
 4 
10
j a

For a given maximum electric field level (e.g., the

breakdown field), the power is increased by
increasing the cross-sectional area (ab).
18
 Attenuation for TE10 Mode

Pl (0) P0  P10 (calculated on previous slide)

Recall  c 
2 P0
y PEC
Rs
Pl (0)  J
2
s d
2 C b
, ,
J s  nˆ  H on conductor
o x
C
z o a

 
H z  A10 cos  x  e  jkz z
Side walls a 
ka  
@ x  0 : J sside  xˆ  H   yH ˆ 10 e  jkz z
ˆ z   yA H x  j z A10 sin  x  e  jk z z
x 0  a 
@ x  a : J sside   xˆ  H x a
 yH ˆ 10 e  jkz z
ˆ z   yA

 J syside   A10 e jkz z

19
 Attenuation for TE10 Mode (cont.)
Top and bottom walls y PEC

@ y  0 : J sbot  yˆ  H
y 0 b
@ y  b : J stop   yˆ  H , ,
y b

o x
J stop   J sbot C
z o a
(since fields of this mode
 
are independent of y) H z  A10 cos  x  e  jkz z
a 
ka  
H x  j z A10 sin  x  e  jkz z
R b
R
a
  a 
 
side 2 2
 Pl (0)  2  s J s dy  s J stop dx 
 2 0
2 0 
J sztop  H x J sxtop   H z
  dx
b a
 Rs  J syside dy  Rs  J sxtop  J sztop
2 2 2

0 0
kz a  
  k z2 a 3 a   J sztop  j A10 sin  x  e  jkz z
 a 
 Rs A10  b    
2

  2 2
2   
   J sxtop  A10 cos  x  e jkz z
a 
20
 Attenuation for TE10 Mode (cont.)
Assume f > fc PEC
(The wavenumber is taken as that y
kz   of a guide with perfect walls.)
b

   2 a3 a   , ,
Pl (0)  Rs A10 b    
2

  2 2
2  o x
C
z o a

j aA10
 ab  E10  
P10   
2 
  E10
 4  
Simplify, using  2  k 2  kc2 kc10 
a

Pl (0)
c  Final result:
2 P10

c 
Rs
a 3b  k 
 2b 2
 a k  [np/m]
3 2

21
 Attenuation in dB/m

PEC
Let z = distance down the guide in meters. y

 c  dB/m   20log10  e / z
 c z , ,
o x
  c z  20log10 (e) / z z o a

 8.686 c
Attenuation
[dB/m]

Hence

dB/m = 8.686 [np/m]

22
 Attenuation for TE10 Mode (cont.)

Brass X-band air-filled waveguide

  2.6 10 7
[S/m]

X band :  8  12 [GHz]
(See the table on the next slide.)

23
Attenuation for TE10 Mode (cont.)

Microwave Frequency Bands

Letter Designation Frequency range
L band 1 to 2 GHz
S band 2 to 4 GHz
C band 4 to 8 GHz
X band 8 to 12 GHz
Ku band 12 to 18 GHz
K band 18 to 26.5 GHz
Ka band 26.5 to 40 GHz
Q band 33 to 50 GHz
U band 40 to 60 GHz
V band 50 to 75 GHz
E band 60 to 90 GHz
W band 75 to 110 GHz
F band 90 to 140 GHz
D band 110 to 170 GHz

(from Wikipedia)
24
 Modes in an X-Band Waveguide

a  2.29cm (0.90")
Standard X-band waveguide (WR90)
b  1.02cm (0.40")

Mode fc [GHz] X band :  8  12 [GHz]

TE10 6.55 1"
TE20 13.10
TE01 14.71 b
0.5"
TE11 16.10 a
TM 11 16.10
50 mil (0.05”) thickness
TE30 19.65
TE21 19.69
TM 21 19.69
25
 Example: X-Band Waveguide
Determine  and g at 10 GHz and a = 2.29cm
6 GHz for the TE10 mode in an air-
filled waveguide.  0 , 0 b = 1.02cm

@ 10 GHz
2
   2 1010    
2 2

        
2
8 
 
a  3  10   0.0229 

  158.25 [rad/m]

2 2
g    0.0397
 158.25
g  3.97 [cm]
26
 Example: X-Band Waveguide (cont.)

@ 6 GHz
2
   2 6 10    
2 9 2

k z        
2
  
a  3  108
  0.0229 
  j 55.04 [1/m]
  55.04 [np/m]
 478.08 [dB/m]
2
g 


Evanescent mode:  = 0; g is not defined!

27
 Circular Waveguide

a TMz mode:

2 Ez 0   ,    kc2 Ez 0   ,   0

z k z2  k 2  kc2

The solution in cylindrical coordinates is:

 J n (kc  )   sin(n ) 
Ez 0   ,      
Yn (kc  )  cos(n ) 

Note: The value n must be an integer to have unique fields.

28
 Plot of Bessel Functions
1
1

0.8

n=0 J n (0) is finite

0.6

n=1
0.4

Jn (x)J0( x)

J1( x) 0.2
n=2
Jn( 2  x)

0.2

0.4

 0.403 0.6
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 x 10

x
2  n    1 
J n ( x) ~ cos  x   , x J n ( x) ~ x n  n  n  0,1, 2,...., x  0
x  2 4  2 n! 
29
 Plot of Bessel Functions (cont.)
1
0.521

n=0
0

n=1
1
n=2

Yn (x)Y0( x)
2
Yn (0) is infinite
Y1( x) 3
Yn( 2  x)

 6.206 7
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 x 10
x
2   x 
Y0 ( x) ~  ln      ,   0.5772156, x  0
n  
  2 
2 
Yn ( x) ~ sin  x   , x  
x 
n
2 4 1 2
Yn ( x) ~  (n  1)!  , n  1, 2,3,....., x  0
 x 30
 Circular Waveguide (cont.)

Choose (somewhat arbitrarily) cos(n )

 J n ( kc  ) 
Ez   ,  , z     cos(n ) e
jk z z

Yn (kc  ) 

The field should be finite on the z axis

Yn (kc  ) is not allowed

Ez   ,  , z   cos(n ) J n (kc  ) e jkz z

31
 Circular Waveguide (cont.)

B.C.’s: Ez  a,  , z   0 Hence J n ( kc a )  0

Sketch for a typical value of n (n  0).

Jn(x)
Note: Pozar uses
the notation pmn.
xn3
x
xn1 xn2

xnp
kc a  xnp kc 
a
  This is true unless n = 0,
J n  xn 0   J n  0   0
Note: The value xn0 = 0 is not included
since this would yield a trivial solution: in which case we cannot
 a have p = 0.

32
 Circular Waveguide (cont.)

TMnp mode:

 
Ez   ,  , z   cos(n ) J n  xnp  e jk z z
n  0,1, 2
 a

2
 xnp 
kz  k  
2
 p  1, 2,3,.........
 a 

33
 Cutoff Frequency: TMz

k z2  k 2  kc2
At f = fc :
xnp
kz  0 k  kc 
a
xnp
2 f c  
a

 cd 
fc TM
  xnp cd 
c
 2 a  r

34
 Cutoff Frequency: TMz (cont.)
xnp values
p\n 0 1 2 3 4 5

1 2.405 3.832 5.136 6.380 7.588 8.771

2 5.520 7.016 8.417 9.761 11.065 12.339

3 8.654 10.173 11.620 13.015 14.372

4 11.792 13.324 14.796

TM01, TM11, TM21, TM02, ……..

35
 TEz Modes
Proceeding as before, we now have that

H z   , , z   cos(n ) J n (kc  ) e jkz z

Set E  a,  , z   0

j H z
E  (From Ampere’s law)
kc2 

H z
 0
  a

Hence J n (kc a)  0
36
 TEz Modes (cont.)

J n (kc a)  0

Jn' (x)
Sketch for a typical value of n (n  1).

x'n3
x
x'n1 x'n2


kc a  xnp
We don’t need to consider

xnp
kc  p  1, 2,3,.....
p = 0; this is explained on
the next slide.
a

37
 TEz Modes (cont.)
  
H z   ,  , z   cos(n ) J n  xnp  e jk z z
p  1, 2,
 a

Note: If p = 0  0
xnp

We then have, for p = 0:

  
n0 J n  xnp   J n  0  0 (trivial solution)
 a
  
n0 J 0  xnp   J0  0  1
 a

H  zˆ e jk z z
 zˆ e jkz
(nonphysical solution)
(The TE00 mode is not physical.)
38
 Cutoff Frequency: TEz

k z2  k 2  kc2


xnp
kz  0 kc  k 
a

xnp
2 f c  
a

Hence
 cd 
fc TE
 
 xnp cd 
c
 2 a  r

39
 Cutoff Frequency: TEz
x´np values
p\n 0 1 2 3 4 5

1 3.832 1.841 3.054 4.201 5.317 5.416

2 7.016 5.331 6.706 8.015 9.282 10.520

3 10.173 8.536 9.969 11.346 12.682 13.987

4 13.324 11.706 13.170

TE11, TE21, TE01, TE31, ……..

40
 TE11 Mode
The dominant mode of circular waveguide is the TE11 mode.

Electric field
Magnetic field

(From Wikipedia)

TE10 mode of TE11 mode of

rectangular waveguide circular waveguide

The mode can be thought of as an evolution of the TE10 mode of

rectangular waveguide as the boundary changes shape.
41
 TE01 Mode

The TE01 mode has the unusual property that the conductor attenuation
decreases with frequency. (With most waveguide modes, the conductor
attenuation increases with frequency.)

The TE01 mode was studied extensively as a candidate for long-

range communications – but eventually fiber-optic cables became
available with even lower loss. It is still useful for some high-power
applications.

42
 TE01 Mode (cont.)
Pl (0)
c 
2 P0
c TE11 TM01 TE21 TM11

P0 = 0 at cutoff

TE01

f
fc, TE11 fc, TM01 fc, TE21 fc, TE01

43
 TE01 Mode (cont.)

Practical Note:

The TE01 mode has only an azimuthal ( -directed) surface current on the
wall of the waveguide. Therefore, it can be supported by a set of
conducting rings, while the lower modes (TE11 ,TM01, TE21, TM11) will not
propagate on such a structure.

(A helical spring will also work fine.)

44
 TE01 Mode (cont.)

From the beginning, the most obvious application of waveguides had been as a
communications medium. It had been determined by both Schelkunoff and Mead,
independently, in July 1933, that an axially symmetric electric wave (TE01) in circular
waveguide would have an attenuation factor that decreased with increasing frequency
[44]. This unique characteristic was believed to offer a great potential for wide-band,
multichannel systems, and for many years to come the development of such a system
was a major focus of work within the waveguide group at BTL. It is important to note,
however, that the use of waveguide as a long transmission line never did prove to be
practical, and Southworth eventually began to realize that the role of waveguide would
be somewhat different than originally expected. In a memorandum dated October 23,
1939, he concluded that microwave radio with highly directive antennas was to be
preferred to long transmission lines. "Thus," he wrote, “we come to the conclusion that
the hollow, cylindrical conductor is to be valued primarily as a new circuit element, but
not yet as a new type of toll cable” [45]. It was as a circuit element in military radar that
waveguide technology was to find its first major application and to receive an enormous
stimulus to both practical and theoretical advance.

K. S. Packard, “The Origins of Waveguide: A Case of Multiple Rediscovery,”

IEEE Trans. MTT, pp. 961-969, Sept. 1984.

45