FREQUENCY SPECTRUM

Figure 1, which follows, depicts the electromagnetic radiation spectrum and some of the commonly used or known areas. Figure 2 depicts the more common uses of the microwave spectrum. Figure 3 shows areas of the spectrum which are frequently referred to by band designations rather than by frequency. Section 7-1 provides an additional breakdown of the EO/IR spectrum. To convert from frequency (f) to wavelength (8) and vice versa, recall that f = c/8, or 8 = c/f; where c = speed of light.
8meter ' 3x10 8 3x105 300 0.3 ' ' ' f Hz f kHz f MHz f GHz

or

f Hz '

3x10 8 8meter

f kHz '

3x105 8meter

f MHz '

300 8meter

f GHz '

0.3 8meter

Some quick rules of thumb follow: Metric: Wavelength in cm = 30 / frequency in GHz For example: at 10 GHz, the wavelength = 30/10 = 3 cm English: Wavelength in ft = 1 / frequency in GHz For example: at 10 GHz, the wavelength = 1/10 = 0.1 ft

Figure 1. Electromagnetic Radiation Spectrum

2-3.1

0.3

0.4

0.5 0.6

0.8

1.0 GHz

10 GHz

20

30

40

50 60

80

100 GHz

1m

10 cm

1 cm

Figure 2. The Microwave Spectrum

FREQUENCY (MHz)
20 30 100 200 300 500 1.5 2

FREQUENCY (GHz)
3 4 5 6 8 10 15 20 30 40 12 18 27 60 80 100 200 300 400

110

HF

VHF

UHF

K* K u

U.S. INDUSTRY STANDARD BANDS (IEEE Radar Designation)

K* a

Millimeter

7 (HF)

8 (VHF)

9 (UHF)

10 (SHF)

11 (EHF)

12

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BANDS

250

H I

MILITARY STANDARD BANDS

* "u" stands for unabsorbed or under K; "a" stands for absorption region or above K

Figure 3. Frequency Band Designations

2-3.2