Joseph Piriano

PHYS 506
4/15/2022

Microwave Optics
Abstract
In this lab we used a microwave optics system to view the various characteristics of

waves and to measure different constants. In each experiment we changed the set up of the

system in order to test different properties of microwaves, in total we completed seven different

experiments. Overall, we were able to successfully measure the average wavelength of the

system as .02885 Cm, use the index of refraction for a styrene pellet in order to prove Snell’s

Law, observe the phenomenon of polarization and how interference patterns can have a similar

effect, and finally investigated the effects of Brewster’s angle as while as view an application of

Bragg’s Law.

Introduction

In all seven of the experiments, we utilized a microwave receiver as well as a microwave

transmitter to make all of the observations. With the use of these two pieces of equipment we

were able to manipulate the transmitted microwave to see how it reacts in different sets of

circumstances in order to make quantitative measurement for different values.

Experiments

The first experiment we conducted was a rather simple one whose main purpose was to

understand how these measurements are made and to observe some very basic wave

characteristics. To begin this experiment, we set up the Transmitter and Receiver, so that they
 Joseph Piriano
PHYS 506
4/15/2022

were facing each other at a distance “R” apart, on top of a Goniometer. Similar to the image in

figure 1. We then increased the R value by moving the receiver back, while recording the Meter

reading “M” while R is increasing. This relationship can be seen in table one.

This shows us that the meter reading doesn’t vary at a predictable rate as the distance R is

increased due the radical changing meter reading with a constant change in R. Meaning that the

meter reading isn’t necessarily related to the electric field or even the intensity of the incident

beam. Moving on now we position the transmitter directly above the center of the Goniometer

and then move the receiver around in a 180-degree half circle to observe how the meter reading

is affected at different angles. This data can be seen in table 2 below.

 Joseph Piriano
PHYS 506
4/15/2022

Table 2

This shows that the strength of the wave falls off as the angle gets further from the 180-degree

mark.

The next experiment we ran was to measure the wavelength and frequency of the

microwave radiation. In order to do this, we will reflect the wave the transmitter is producing and

reflect is back on itself, this will give us a standing wave. Since the two waves are traveling at

the same frequency and in opposite, they create nodes where the fields of the two waves cancel

each other out. The distance between these nodes is just one half of the wavelength. In order to

create this standing wave, we adjust the set similar to that seen in Figure 1 in the first

experiment. We then slide the receiver away from the transmitter until we hit our maximum

meter reading. We repeated this process twice in order to have an accurate reading. Our data as

well as the calculated wavelength and frequency can be seen in table 3 below.
 Joseph Piriano
PHYS 506
4/15/2022

Table 3

To calculate wavelength, we used the equation D = n /2 where d is the distance between the

transmitter and the receiver and the is an integer representing the number of nodes. After

incorporating an error of 0.1 cm we get an average wavelength of .02885 CM.

In the third experiment we take a look at Snell’s law and how we can use it to measure

the index of refraction for some styrene pellets. Snell’s law is simply n1sin1 = n2sin2 with n

representing the index of reflection, 1 is the angle of the incident wave with relationship to the

plane and 2 being the opposite angle of the refracted wave. In order to set up out system to

measure the index of refraction we need to add a prism mold and rotating table in between the

transmitter and receiver. This configuration can be seen below in figure 2.

Figure 3

After getting everything set up you the fill the prism with the styrene pellets and position it so

that the face of the prism closest to the transmitter is perpendicular to the microwave beam. This
 Joseph Piriano
PHYS 506
4/15/2022

is so we can set up Snell’s law in the way figure 4 suggests, so that we can use a protractor to

measure the corresponding angles.

Figure 4

The measure angles as well as the calculated index of relection can be seen in table 4.

Table 4

After inputting 1 for the index refraction for air as n1 we can use the measued angles to calculate

for n2 which is 2.346. After accounting for 1 degree of error in our angle measurements we get a

final answer of 2.346±0.05.

The next experiment we ran was to observe the polarization effects on the microwaves.

To see a very basic representation of this we started by rotating the horn on the receiver by 10

degrees at a time and recorded the changing meter reading, this data can be found in table 4

below.

Table 4
 Joseph Piriano
PHYS 506
4/15/2022

From this data set we can view that the reading becomes weaker and weaker as the angle

approaches 90 degrees. When then add polarizer slits to the system which is represented in figure

5. Figure 5

We then tested how this polarizer affected the intensity of our microwaves. This shows us that

the polarizer blocks the components of the waves that are perpendicular to the slits. When the

transmitter is at the 90 degrees mark, we can see that the wave is entirely perpendicular

components at that point, where at the 45 degrees mark we can see other parts of the wave start

to picked up. This data can be seen in the measurements below in table 6.
 Joseph Piriano
PHYS 506
4/15/2022

Table 6

This allows us to see just how much of the wave is blocked by the polarizer.

This phenomenon of a single wave being diffracted into two waves in order to be

reflected back on another to create an interference patter can also be seen in our next experiment,

through the use of Lloyd’s Mirror. In order to set this experiment up we need to place the

transmitter and receiver as far apart as possible on the Goniometer, while still making sure they

are equal distance from the center. In addition, we will need to add a reflector plate so that is

lined up perpendicular to the wave as seen in figure 6 below.

Figure 6
 Joseph Piriano
PHYS 506
4/15/2022

We then will need to find a minima meter reading when the reflector plate is as close to the

center as possible. Once this is found you’ll need to slowly move the plate back until another

minima is found. This combined with the distance between the center of the degree scale and the

transmitter diode is everything you need to calculate wavelength. This data is represented below

in table 7.

Table 7

This method gives us a wavelength that is very close to the one we previouslt calculated in the

second experiment.

In the next expirement we will explore Brewter’s Angle which is described as the

angle of polarization for which no radiation will be relfected.To start this experiment we need to

set the transmitter and the reciever for horizontal polarization so each of them will have to be

moved to 90 degrees. We also need to bring back to roatating table with a polyethylene panel on

top. The setup should look like figure 7.

Figure 7
 Joseph Piriano
PHYS 506
4/15/2022

Next we changed the angel of incidence of the mircowave until the transmitter 20 degrees and

roateted the Goniometer arm until the reciever detected a maximum signal being reflected. We

then recoeded the meter reading in inrciments of 5 degrees all the way up to 75 degrees. The

process was then repeated with the transmitter and reciever for vertical polarization. This data is

in Table 8 below.

Table 8

This shows why sunglasses are built to block out horizontally polarized light.

Our last experiment we ran had the sole perpose of obeserving Bragg’s Law. Bragg’s law

is an incredible tool for studying the crystalline structures through the relation of their scattering

angles of inciednt x-rays. The two main parts of this law are the actual equation, 2dsin = n,

and the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. However in this experiment we will

be using it to understand a large cubic structure with evenly spaced 10-mm spehres embedded in

it. To conduct this experiment we will need the foam cube and our rotating table set up

inbetween the transmitter and reciever like in figure 8.

 Joseph Piriano
PHYS 506
4/15/2022

Figure 8

In order to start making measurements we will need to adjust the cube so that the (100) planes

are parrellel to the incident angel of the microwave. Now we rotate the crystal one degree

clockwise while roating the Goniometer arm two deggrees. The data takien usijng this process in

located in Table 9.

Table 9
 Joseph Piriano
PHYS 506
4/15/2022

Conclusion

In this lab we were able to succesfully complete a series of experiments to observe the

charicteristics of microwaves. Through this process we were able to measure a consitent

wavelength and verify it through several different methods.