Waveguides

Conceptual analysis
A conceptual approach to understand guided mode propagation
using uniform plane wave

• To understand wave propagation through a guided medium using EM theory

• We will start with simple reflection phenomena and from that understand guiding
mechanism using a parallel plane waveguide

• We will understand what modes are and how they are formed.

• Cut-off frequency

• Phase velocity and group velocity

• Dispersion

• After we understand these basic concepts we will use rigorous and general solutions of
different waveguide modes
 Dielectric
𝐸𝑦 field profile 𝜇1 , 𝜀1 , 𝜎1 = 0
𝑬𝒊 𝑬𝒓
𝛽 = 𝜔 𝜇1 𝜀1
𝑯𝒊 𝑯𝒓
𝜇1
𝜃 𝜃 𝜂=
𝜀1
sin(𝛽𝑥 cos 𝜃)
Standing wave

𝑒 −𝑗(𝜔𝑡−𝛽𝑧 sin 𝜃) Ideal Conductor

No E or H-field 𝜎2 = ∞
Travelling wave

Observation:
x • 𝐸𝑖𝑜 = −𝐸𝑟𝑜
Conductor
• Total electric field in the dielectric:
z
𝐸 = 2𝑗𝐸𝑖𝑜 sin 𝛽𝑥 cos 𝜃 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧 sin 𝜃 𝑦
• Total magnetic field in the dielectric
Total electric field in the dielectric: 𝐻 = 𝐻𝑥 𝑥 + 𝐻𝑧 𝑧
𝐸(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧, 𝑡) = 2𝑗𝐸𝑖𝑜 sin 𝛽𝑥 cos 𝜃 𝑒 𝑗(𝜔𝑡−𝛽𝑧 sin 𝜃) 𝑦 𝐸𝑖𝑜
𝐻𝑥 = −2𝑗 sin 𝜃 sin 𝛽𝑥 cos 𝜃 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧 sin 𝜃
𝜂
𝐸𝑖𝑜
Standing wave (x-direction) Travelling wave (z-direction) 𝐻𝑧 = −2 cos 𝜃 cos 𝛽𝑥 cos 𝜃 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧 sin 𝜃
𝜂
 𝑬𝒚 𝑯𝒛 𝑯𝒙

cos 𝛽𝑥 cos 𝜃
sin 𝛽𝑥 cos 𝜃
sin 𝛽𝑥 cos 𝜃
x x x
Conductor Conductor Conductor
z z z

𝐸𝑦 = 2𝑗𝐸𝑖𝑜 sin 𝛽𝑥 cos 𝜃 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧 sin 𝜃 𝑦

𝐸𝑖𝑜
𝐻𝑧 = −2 cos 𝜃 cos 𝛽𝑥 cos 𝜃 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧 sin 𝜃
𝜂
𝐸𝑖𝑜
𝐻𝑥 = −2𝑗 sin 𝜃 sin 𝛽𝑥 cos 𝜃 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧 sin 𝜃
𝜂
 Dielectric
𝑬𝒚 𝑬𝒊 𝑬𝒓 𝜇1 , 𝜀1 , 𝜎1 = 0
𝛽 = 𝜔 𝜇1 𝜀1
𝑯𝒊 𝑯𝒓
𝜇1
𝜃 𝜃 𝜂=
𝜀1
3𝜆
𝑥=
2 cos 𝜃
𝜆 Ideal Conductor
𝑥= No E or H-field 𝜎2 = ∞
cos 𝜃
𝜆
𝑥=
2 cos 𝜃
𝑥=0
𝐸𝑦
x
Conductor
𝐸𝑦 = 0 for
z sin 𝛽𝑥 cos 𝜃
𝑚𝜋 𝑚𝜆
𝑥= =
At any point of time 𝛽 cos 𝜃 2 cos 𝜃
𝑚 = 0,1,2, ⋯
 Dielectric
𝑬𝒊 𝑬𝒓 𝜇1 , 𝜀1 , 𝜎1 = 0
𝛽 = 𝜔 𝜇1 𝜀1
𝑯𝒊 𝑯𝒓
𝜇1
𝜃 𝜃 𝜂=
𝜀1

30O 45O 60O Ideal Conductor

No E or H-field 𝜎2 = ∞

𝐸𝑦 = 0 for
𝑚𝜋 𝑚𝜆
𝑥= =
𝛽 cos 𝜃 2 cos 𝜃
Parallel plane waveguide

Conductor
Conductor
Conductor 3𝜆
𝑥=
2 cos 𝜃
𝜆
𝑥=
cos 𝜃
𝜆
𝑥=
2 cos 𝜃
𝑥=0
x
Conductor
z
We can think of it as the interference of multiple rays inside the waveguide
 For, m=1, 𝜃 = 𝜃1
𝜷
𝜃1
d 𝜷
𝜃1
Conductor

The waveguide will only confine EM wave if

𝑚𝜋 𝑚𝜆
x 𝐸𝑦 𝑑= =
Conductor 𝛽 cos 𝜃 2 cos 𝜃
z
That is
𝒎𝝀
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 =
𝟐𝒅
Propagation constant of the mode is 𝜷 = 𝜷 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽
 For, m=2, 𝜃 = 𝜃2
𝜃2 𝜃2
d
Conductor

The waveguide will only confine EM wave if

𝑚𝜋 𝑚𝜆
x 𝐸𝑦 𝑑= =
Conductor 𝛽 cos 𝜃 2 cos 𝜃
z
That is
𝒎𝝀
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 =
𝟐𝒅
Propagation constant of the mode is 𝜷 = 𝜷 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽
 𝒎=𝟏 𝒎=𝟐 𝒎=𝟑

𝜃 𝜃
𝑬𝒊 𝑬𝒓
d
d 𝑯𝒊 𝜃 𝜃 𝑯𝒓

𝐸𝑦 𝐸𝑦 𝐸𝑦

𝑻𝑬𝟏 𝑻𝑬𝟐 𝑻𝑬𝟑

Observations:
• The field distribution is invariant along z-direction and only depends on the transverse direction (in this
case x-direction). Variation along z-direction is only due to phase variation.
• This is called the mode of a waveguide (the transverse field distribution).
• For a fixed 𝑑 and 𝜆 only discrete values of 𝜽 is allowed, hence only a discrete set of modes can survive
inside the waveguide.
• There is a H-field component along the direction of propagation, but no E-field. Hence this type of modes
are called transverse electric (TE) mode.
Is 𝑇𝐸0 a possible mode of a
parallel plate waveguide? 𝑬𝒚
d
𝐸𝑦 = 2𝑗𝐸𝑖𝑜 sin 𝛽𝑥 cos 𝜃 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧 sin 𝜃 𝑯𝒙

𝐸𝑖𝑜
𝐻𝑥 = −2𝑗 sin 𝜃 sin 𝛽𝑥 cos 𝜃 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧 sin 𝜃
𝜂
𝐸𝑖𝑜
𝐻𝑧 = −2 cos 𝜃 cos 𝛽𝑥 cos 𝜃 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧 sin 𝜃 𝒎𝝀
𝜂
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 =
𝟐𝒅
For 𝜃 = 90°
𝐸𝑦 = 0 𝒎 = 𝟎 𝒔𝒐 𝜽 = 𝟗𝟎°
𝐻𝑥 = 0

𝐻𝑧 = 0

Since, no field component exist when 𝜃 = 90°, 𝑇𝐸0 is not an allowed mode
Effect of signal frequency

Lets consider TE1 mode

Conductor
𝒎=𝟏

𝜆
cos 𝜃 =
2𝑑

x 𝐸𝑦
Conductor
z
Effect of signal frequency Maximum allowed wavelength is
𝜆𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 2𝑑
Lets consider TE1 mode
𝒎=𝟏 Minimum allowed frequency is
𝑣 1
𝜆 𝑓𝑚𝑖𝑛 = = Cut-off frequency (fc)
cos 𝜃 = 2𝑑 2𝑑 𝜇1 𝜀1
2𝑑
Below this frequency EM wave can not be propagated in TE1 mode

𝝀 = 𝝀𝟏 𝝀 = 𝝀𝟐 > 𝝀𝟏 𝝀 = 𝝀𝒎𝒂𝒙

d 𝜃
d d
Cut-off frequency (fc)

TE1 TE2 TEm

𝒗 𝟏 𝟐𝒗 𝟏 𝒎𝒗 𝒎
𝒇𝒄𝟏 = =
𝟐𝒅 𝟐𝒅 𝝁𝟏 𝜺𝟏 < 𝒇𝒄𝟐 = =
𝟐𝒅 𝒅 𝝁𝟏 𝜺𝟏 < 𝒇𝒄𝒎 = =
𝟐𝒅 𝟐𝒅 𝝁𝟏 𝜺𝟏

Note that higher the mode number higher the cut-off frequency

𝒇 > 𝒇𝒄 𝒇 < 𝒇𝒄

𝜷 𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝜷 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒚
Transverse Magnetic mode (TM mode) Dielectric
𝑯𝒊 𝑯𝒓 𝜇1 , 𝜀1 , 𝜎1 = 0
𝛽 = 𝜔 𝜇1 𝜀1
𝑬𝒊 𝑬𝒓
𝜇1
Observation: 𝜃 𝜃 𝜂=
𝜀1
• 𝐸𝑖𝑜 = 𝐸𝑟𝑜

• Total electric field in the dielectric: Ideal Conductor

No E or H-field 𝜎2 = ∞
𝐸 = 𝐸𝑥 𝑥 + 𝐸𝑧 𝑧

𝐸𝑥 = 2𝐸𝑖𝑜 sin 𝜃 cos 𝛽𝑥 cos 𝜃 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧 sin 𝜃 The waveguide will only confine EM wave if
𝐸𝑧 = 2𝑗𝐸𝑖𝑜 cos 𝜃 sin 𝛽𝑥 cos 𝜃 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧 sin 𝜃 𝑚𝜋 𝑚𝜆
𝑑= =
• Total magnetic field in the dielectric 𝛽 cos 𝜃 2 cos 𝜃

𝐸𝑖𝑜 That is
𝐻=2 cos 𝛽𝑥 cos 𝜃 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧 sin 𝜃 𝑦
𝜂 𝒎𝝀
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 =
𝟐𝒅
**Similar condition as TE modes
Is 𝑇𝑀0 a possible mode of a
parallel plate waveguide? 𝑬𝒙

d
𝐸𝑥 = 2𝐸𝑖𝑜 sin 𝜃 cos 𝛽𝑥 cos 𝜃 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧 sin 𝜃 𝑯𝒚

𝐸𝑧 = 2𝑗𝐸𝑖𝑜 cos 𝜃 sin 𝛽𝑥 cos 𝜃 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧 sin 𝜃

𝐸𝑖𝑜
𝐻=2 cos 𝛽𝑥 cos 𝜃 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧 sin 𝜃 𝑦
𝜂
𝒎𝝀
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 = 𝒎 = 𝟎 𝒔𝒐 𝜽 = 𝟗𝟎°
𝟐𝒅
For 𝜃 = 90° Field component can exist when 𝜃 = 90°, 𝑇𝑀0 is an allowed mode
𝐸𝑥 = 2𝐸𝑖𝑜 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧 Only 𝐸𝑥 and 𝐻𝑦 survives and both are perpendicular to the direction of propagation
Propagation constant 𝛽 = 𝛽 : Same as the bulk medium
𝐸𝑧 = 0 𝐸𝑥
Wave impedance = 𝜂 : Same as the bulk medium
𝐻𝑦
𝐸𝑖𝑜 −𝑗𝛽𝑧
𝐻𝑦 = 2 𝑒 This mode behaves as if there is no confinement
𝜂
Therefore TM0 mode is nothing but a TEM mode
Is 𝑇𝑀0 a possible mode of a
parallel plate waveguide?
Transverse electromagnetic mode (TEM)

𝐸𝑥 = 2𝐸𝑖𝑜 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧
𝐸𝑧 = 0
E-field
𝐸𝑖𝑜 −𝑗𝛽𝑧
𝐻𝑦 = 2 𝑒 H-field
𝜂
Parallel Plate Waveguide
TE TM TEM

Three types of mode can survive in a parallel plate 𝑬 𝑯 𝑬

waveguide
𝑯 𝑬
𝑯
𝑇𝐸 𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑒: 𝐸𝑦 , 𝐻𝑥 , 𝐻𝑧
𝑇𝐸𝑚

𝑇𝑀 𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑒: 𝐸𝑥 , 𝐸𝑧 , 𝐻𝑦
𝑇𝑀𝑚

𝑇𝐸𝑀 𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑒: 𝐸𝑥 , 𝐻𝑦
𝑇𝐸𝑀 (𝑇𝑀0 )
Mode profiles in Parallel Plate Waveguide

𝑇𝐸1 𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑒

𝑇𝑀1 𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑒
Phase velocity
Recall
The propagation constant of the mode is: 𝜷
𝛽 = 𝛽 sin 𝜃 d
𝜷 𝜃 𝜃
Phase velocity:
𝜔 𝜔 1 1 1
𝑣𝑝 = = =𝑣 =𝑣 =𝑣
𝛽 𝛽 sin 𝜃 1 − cos 𝜃 2
2 2
𝑚𝜆 𝑚𝑣
1− 1− 𝒎𝝀
2𝑑 2𝑑𝑓 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 =
𝟐𝒅

𝑚𝑣 𝟏
We also have the cut-off frequency as: 𝑓𝑐𝑚 = 𝒗=
2𝑑 𝝁𝟏 𝜺𝟏

Therefore we can write phase velocity in terms of operating frequency and cut off frequency as:
𝟏
𝒗𝒑 = 𝒗
𝟐
𝒇
𝟏 − 𝒄𝒎
𝒇
Phase velocity
𝟏
𝒗𝒑 = 𝒗 𝜷
𝟐
𝒇 d
𝟏 − 𝒄𝒎
𝒇
𝜷 𝜃 𝜃
• Phase velocity is a function of frequency for both TE and TM modes
This phenomenon is know as wave dispersion

𝟏
• As 𝑓 increases 𝑣𝑝 → 𝑣 𝒗=
𝝁𝟏 𝜺𝟏
𝒗𝒑
• For 𝑓 < 𝑓𝑐 𝑣𝑝 > 𝑣

Phase velocity of each mode is greater than

the velocity in the unbounded medium
𝒗

𝒇𝒄𝟏 𝒇𝒄𝟐 𝒇𝒄𝟑 𝒇

Phase velocity
TEM
Let us now consider TEM mode (i.e. TMO mode)
𝑬
The propagation constant of the mode is:
𝛽=𝛽 𝑯

Phase velocity:
𝜔 𝜔
𝑣𝑝 = = = 𝑣
𝛽 𝛽
𝟏
𝒗=
• For TEM mode, phase velocity is not a 𝝁𝟏 𝜺𝟏
function of frequency
𝒗𝒑

• For any frequency 𝑣𝑝 = 𝑣

Any frequency can propagate through a 𝒗

TEM
parallel plate waveguide in TEM mode
𝒇𝒄𝟏 𝒇𝒄𝟐 𝒇𝒄𝟑 𝒇
Group velocity
𝜕𝜔
Group velocity ≡
𝜕𝛽
𝑓𝑐𝑚 2
For TE and TM mode Group velocity, 𝑣𝑔 = 𝑣 1 −
𝑓

For TEM mode 𝑣𝑔 = 𝑣𝑝 = 𝑣

𝒗𝒑

𝒗
TEM

𝒗𝒈

𝒇
𝒇𝒄𝟏 𝒇𝒄𝟐 𝒇𝒄𝟑
Modes of Parallel Plane Waveguides

𝒗𝒑

𝒗
TEM

𝒗𝒈

𝒇
𝒇𝒄𝟏 𝒇𝒄𝟐 𝒇𝒄𝟑

For TEM mode weather the wave is travelling through the bulk medium or confined by two-
conductors, the propagation constant and intrinsic impedance are same as if the conductors
have no effect on the wave propagation.

How can you justify this observation?

Waveguide with 2-dimensional confinement in the transverse plane

𝒆−𝜸𝒛 dependency
𝒛
𝒙

x or y
Mode
(only x and y dependency)
Longitudinal direction
z
(z-axis)
Structure is invariant along z-axis
𝑗𝜔𝑡 −𝛾𝑧 𝒚
𝐸𝑖 = 𝐸𝑖𝑜 (𝑥, 𝑦)𝑒 𝑒 Transverse plane
(xy-plane)
𝐻𝑖 = 𝐻𝑖𝑜 (𝑥, 𝑦)𝑒 𝑗𝜔𝑡 𝑒 −𝛾𝑧 Arbitrary shape

Where 𝑖 ≡ 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧