Waveguides
A single hollow metallic conductor, either rigid or flexible,
which transfers electromagnetic energy from one point to
another.
General Types of Waveguides
Rectangular
Elliptical
Circular
1. Rectangular
It is the most commonly used,
with oxygen free, high
conductivity copper; it gives a
favorable transmission
channel for microwave
frequency.
It is used for extremely low
VSWR applications to meet
stringent noise performance
specifications.
2. Elliptical
Short sections of flexible elliptical waveguide are used, the
number and lengths of flexible section are minimized; size and
attenuation is similar to standard rectangular waveguides.
3. Circular
Lowest loss and can support
two orthogonal polarization
within the single guide and is
capable of carrying several
frequency bands, but is
practical only for short runs.
A waveguide is capable of
transmitting microwave energy
in a number of different
electric and magnetic field
configurations. The different
positions, or patters of the
fields are called MODES.
Modes
The configuration in which the energy propagates thru a
waveguide.
Depends on the operating frequency and the physical
dimensions of the waveguides.
Two Modes in Waveguides
TE (Transverse Electric, H-mode)
TM (Transverse Magnetic, E-mode)
1. TE (Transverse Electric, H-mode)
The electric field is always
perpendicular to the
direction of propagation.
No component of the electric
field in the direction of
propagation.
2. TM (Transverse Magnetic, E-mode)
The magnetic field is always perpendicular to the direction of
propagation.
No component of the magnetic field in the direction of
propagation.
Types of Modes
Dominant (or Fundamental) Mode
Higher Order Mode
1. Dominant (or Fundamental) Mode
The simplest or lowest order mode in a waveguide the
particular mode in each class is designated.
TE10 (for rectangular waveguide)
TE11 (for circular waveguide)
2. Higher Order Mode
TE11, TE20, TE22
TM11, TM20, TM22... Etc
Higher order modes are not used in practice because of their
high cut off frequencies.
Cut-Off frequency (fcc)
The lowest frequency that will propagate thru a waveguide
while operating in a particular mode. A waveguide is a high-
pass filter.
fc = 1.5x108 √((m / a)2 + (n / b)2)
Cut-Off wavelength (λcc)
λc = 2 / √((m / a)2 + (n / b)2)
The various modes are designated by subscripts m and n. In
the dominant mode, TE10 (m = 1 and n = 0).
Group Velocity (Vgg)
Velocity of the waves as they propagate through the waveguide.
Vg = c x √(1 – (λ / λc)2)
Phase Velocity (Vpp)
Velocity with which the wave changes phase.
Vp = c / √(1 – (λ / λc) ) 2
Guide Wavelength (λg)
The wavelength of the travelling wave which propagates down
the waveguide.
λg = λ / √(1 – (λ / λc) ) 2
Sample problem:
A wave is propagated in a parallel plane waveguide. The
frequency is 6 GHz and the plane separation is 3 cm. Find the
cut-off wavelength, the group and phase velocities are
___________
Sample problem:
Consider an air-filled rectangular waveguide with a cross – section
of 5 cm × 3 cm. For this waveguide, the cut off frequency (in
MHz) of TE21 21 mode is ________
Characteristic Impedance of the Waveguide
For the TE mode:
Zo = 120π / √(1 – (λ / λc) ) 2
For the TM mode:
Zo = 120π x √(1 – (λ / λc)2)
Sample problem:
A rectangular waveguide measures 3 x 4.5 cm internally and
has a 9 GHz signal propagated in it. Calculate the cut-off
wavelength and characteristic impedance for the TM11 11 mode.
Circular Waveguide’s Cut-off wavelength
λc = 2πr / kr
Values of krr for Principal Modes in Circular Waveguides
Transverse Electric Transverse Magnetic
Mode kr Mode kr
TE01 3.83 TM01 2.4
TE11 1.84 TM11 3.83
TE21 3.05 TM21 5.14
TE02 7.02 TM02 5.52
TE12 5.33 TM12 7.02
TE22 6.71 TM22 8.42
Sample problem:
Find cut off wavelength for mode TE11 in a circular
waveguide having radius 2 cm. Assume Kr= 1.841
𝟐π 𝒓 𝟐 π ( 𝟐 𝒄𝒎 )
𝝀𝒄 = = =𝟔 . 𝟖𝟐 𝒄𝒎
𝒌𝒓 𝟏 . 𝟖𝟒𝟏
Sample problem:
A TE11
11
mode is propagating through circular waveguide. The radius of the
guide is 5 cm and the guide contains air dielectric. Determine (a) cutoff
frequency and cutoff wavelength (b) phase velocity for operating
frequency of 3 GHz.
Causes of Attenuation
1. Due to losses in the conducting walls of the waveguide.
2. Due to the shunt conductivity of the dielectric filling the
waveguide.
Other Waveguides
Ridged waveguides
Flexible waveguides
1. Ridged waveguides
Principal effect is to lower the value of the cut-off wavelength
Increase the useful frequency range of the waveguide.
2. Flexible waveguides
Waveguide sections capable of movements, i.e. Bending, twisting,
stretching or vibration.
Methods of Exciting Waveguides
1. Antennas – probe or loop
2. Slot coupling – hole or slot
3. Direct coupling to coaxial cables
Waveguide Coupling
1. Flanges for rectangular waveguides
2. Rotating couplings for circular and elliptical
waveguides.
Waveguide Sections
Taper
Twists
Tee
1. Taper
used to couple a circular
to a rectangular
waveguide.
2. Twists
used to change the signal
polarization.
3. Tee
used to combine two or
more signals.
Questions
1. What is the principal mode of a rectangular waveguide?
a. TEM
b. TE11
c. TE10
d. TM11
2. A waveguide acts as a
a. LPF
b. HPF
c. BPF
d. Resonator
3. Which of the following is a microwave frequency?
a. 1.7 MHz
b. 750 MHz
c. 0.98 GHz
d. 22 GHz
4. A waveguide has a cut-off frequency of 17 GHz. Which of the
following signals will not pass thru the waveguide?
a. 15 GHz
b. 18 Ghz
c. 22 GHz
d. 255 GHz
5. When the electric field is perpendicular to the direction of
propagation, the mode is said to be
a. Vertically polarized
b. Horizontally polarized
c. Transverse electric
d. Transverse magnetic
6. The velocity of a resultant wave as it travels through the
waveguide.
a. Speed of light
b. Group velocity
c. Phase velocity
d. Incident velocity
7. The smallest free space wavelength that is just unable to
propagate in the waveguide under given conditions.
a. Guide
b. Phase
c. Cut-off
d. Group
8. Indicate which of the following cannot be followed by the word
"waveguide".
a. Elliptical
b. Flexible
c. Coaxial
d. Ridge
9. A waveguide section used to couple a circular to a rectangular
waveguide.
a. Taper
b. Twist
c. Bend
d. Tee
10. A waveguide section used to change the signal polarization
a. Taper
b. Twist
c. Bend
d. Tee
11. A waveguide section used to combine two or more signals
a. Taper
b. Twist
c. Bend
d. Tee
12. The progressive decrease of signal strength with increasing
distance
a. Radiation
b. Attenuation
c. Modulation
d. Propagation
13. A waveguide mode in which there is no component of electric
field in the direction of propagation given in the British
European standards
a. H mode
b. E mode
c. TE mode
d. TM mode
14. Calculate the cut-off wavelength, the guide wavelength and
the characteristic impedance of a circular waveguide whose
internal diameter is 4 cm for a 10 GHz signal propagated in it in
the dominant mode. (kr = 1.84)
a. 6.83 cm, 3 cm, 420 ohms
b. 3 cm, 6.83 cm, 420 ohms
c. 6.83 cm, 3.34 cm, 420 ohms
d. 6.83 cm, 3.34 cm, 338 ohms
