MI CROWA VE TRANSMISSION LINES

119

4 . ~ Standard Dimensions of Rectangular Waveguides

Tl-s~andard dimensions for rectangular waveguides as recommended
by Electronic Industries Association with usable frequency ranges,
attenuation and power handling capacity is shown in Table 4.2.
Table 4.2 Standard rectangular waveguide sizes as recommended
by the Electronic Industries Association (EIA)
EIA Usable Inner Attenuation* Peak Power
designation Frequency Dimensions (dB/100 ft) Capacity
Range (GHz) bx a (inces) (Kilowatts)
WR-284 2.60-3.95 1.340 X 2.840 1.10-0.75 2200-3200
WR-187 3.95-5.85 0.872 X 1.872 2.08-1.44 1400-2000
WR-137 5.85-8.20 0.622 X 1.372 2.87-2.30 560-710
WR-90 8.20-12.40 0.400 X 0.900 6.45-4.48 200-290
WR-62 12.40-18.00 0.311 X 0.622 9.51-8.31 120-160
WR-42 18.00-26.50 0.170 X 0.420 20.7-14.8 43-58
* Theoretical values for brass waveguide

-~ 4_,risCircular Waveguides
A circular waveguide is basically a tubular, circular conductor. Figure
4.43 shows a circular waveguide of inner radius p = a and length l.

Fig. 4.43 Circular waveguides.

Here <I> varies from O to 2 1t, p varies from O to a and l varies along
z-ax1s.
The Helmholtj's wave equation for a TE and TM wave travelling in
z direction in a circular waveguide are given by

V 2Hz = O and V 2Ez = 0.

 ND RADAR ENGINEERING
MICROWAVE A .
120
1 · c~u~~"~~
4.3.19 Propagation of TE Waves in
FOt"'a TE wave to propagate Ez = O a nd Hz '#- O
From Maxwell's equation ... (.4100)
V2Hz = - ciµdlz
Expanding V2Hz in cylindrical co-ordinates.
a Hz21 aHz 1 a2 Hz + a2 Hz2 = - oiµtllz
ap2 + p ap + ? a 2 dZ
<1>

a2
We know~ = "( (an operator)
az
a2 Hz+_!_ aHz+ _l a2 Hz+ (Y' + olµe) Hz = o ... (4.101)
a P2 P a P P2 a <1>2
2
But "( + co2µ£ = h
Therefore, Eq. 4.99 becomes
a2Hz + _!_ aHz + _!_ a2Hz + h 2Hz = 0 ... (4.102)
a P2 P a P P2 a <1>2
This is a partial differential equation, whose solution by separation
of variables method is assumed to be
Hz= PQ ... (4.103)
where, Pis a function of p only and
Q is a function of <I> only.
Substituting for Hz in Eq. 4.102, it reduces to
a2 (PQ) + 1. _l_ (PQ) + _!_ <)2 (PQ) + h zPQ = 0
a P2 P aP P2 a <1>2
d 2 P Q aP P a2 Q
or Q - + - - + - - - + h 2PQ = 0
d Pz P a P P2 a <1>2

Multiplying throughout by k, we get

2

2 2 2
.e.= __ dP 1 d Q
d P +_Q_-+---+h2p2 - 0
P dp 2
P dp2
Q d <j> -
... (4.104)

(1) (2) (3) (4)

The terms (1), (2) and (4) of Eq. 4.104 are functions of I
term (3) is a function of <I> only. Pon Y and the
2
1 d Q 2 h 2.
Let Q ------;:zd = - n w ere n 1s a constant. Eq · 4 · 104 th en b ecomes
<I>

fl_ d 2P £. dP
p dp2 + p dp + (p2h2 - n2) == 0
MICROWAVE TRANSMISSION LINES 121

Multiplying throughout by P, we get

d 2P
2 dP -
p dp2 + p ap + (p2h2 - n2) p = o
This is similar to the Bessel's equation of the form
2 d2y 1:1:._ 2 2
x dx2 + x dx + (x - n ) y = 0
whose solution is y = CnJn(x), where Jn(x) represents the nth order
Bessel function of the first kind and Cn is a constant. To bring Eq. 4.105
into standard Bessel form, we write,
2
2 d P dP 2
(ph) - - + 2p h - - + ( p 2h -n )P = O
2

d (p h) d (p h)
Therefore, the solution of this e ion is given by
P = CnJn (ph) ... (4.105)
2
Also, 1 ddq,Q
Q = -n2 ... (4.106) ~
2

The general solution of this . uation is given hY, . , ,

Q = An cos n + Bn em n <I>
. >,
.,.t,-t 1-\.faL~
. ~odAc µ
J¥:- ~ I
·~ 2,-,r-·
tJJ. J, I
41
rb )
Equation 4.10 is the Bessel's solution for P. The nth order_i(essel ~/5
function J 11 (ph) of the first kind are plotted in Fig. 4.44 for some integer
values ofn. ,.-..~u..I -
¢1/1,+f"
,
b 0-.r---

?< ; A.~~ ) ~ z{W ~ ;:,-0

1 .0 Jo(ph) fl~~~ ~ A
A eIP r?
·'TG,1-.-V) ry, ~ 1A~
0.5
,,,-....
.c
Q..
..__,,
-; o IL--1--++~rl--r-f+---+t:......+-~-+-__.__

-0.5 ---(ph)
Fig. 4.44 Bessel function of first kind.
Therefore the complete solution becomes as per Eq. 4.103,
Hz= P.Q
..Hz ✓ 2 2
= CnJn (p h) . An+ Bn cos n 'I'+ an
,1-. t - 1 A,i
Bn
or
 VE AND RADAR ENGTNfERTNl,
122 MICROWA . , _/ 2 n•~
- i A,1 and C1 = \IA11 t- " I
[1where n<I> = n$ + tan B11 ,. - J ·
l" h C = c,. ~ n)
H z = CO J11 (p h) cos n<I> (w ere ' , o
Ifwe consider a sinusiodal variation along z ... (4.107)
Hz = CJn (p h) cos n<I> e-rz

Boundary Conditions ll long the surface

·t·
Now applying boundary con d1 ions, w e knowfi that a a
values .
of <I> varying
of the circular waveguide at p = a, E<t> = 0 or a 11
between O to 21t,

i.e., oHi
- 0
aP p• a
This implies
J,,' (a.h) = 0
Here the prime denotes differentiation with respect to ah. The mth
root of this equation is denoted by
by
P; 1m which are the eigenvalues given

Pnm = ah .. .(4.108)
Various root values are listed in Table 4.3. Equation 4 .107 now
reduces to
Hz = Co J,i' (a.h) cos nq> e-'YZ ... (4.109)
I

where ah= Pnma and this equation represents all possible solutions of
Hz for TEnm waves in circular waveguide. Since J ,1 are oscillatory
functions, the J,i' (aH) are also oscillatory functions.
I

Table 4.3 Pnm values for TEnm modes in circular waveguide

~
1 2 3

0 3.832 7.016 10.173

1 1.841 5.331 8.536
2 3.054 6.706
9.969
3 4.201 8.015
11.346
Note: Here the first subscript 'n' represents th
of field variation in one revolution through 7t ed~umber of full cycles
2 ra ians of tt-. Th
. t 'm ' represent the num ber of zeroes
subscrip f Eq, . 'I'• e second
the radial of the waveguide but the zero on t~e ,_ i.~., J,i' (ah) along
exists. axis 18 excluded if it
MI CROWAVE TRANSMISSION LINES
123
The permissible values of h is given from Eq. 4.108.
I

or h = Pnm
... (4.110)
a
The various field components Ep, E<j>, Ez, Hp, H<j> and Hz can be
obtained by using the cylindrical co-ordinates, (as we have seen in case
of rectangular waveguides) by using Maxwell's curl equations. The field
components are given by
✓E = -jwµ !_ aHz ... (4.111)
P h 2 p aq>
/ E<t> = ~a Hz ... (4.112)
h ap 2

/Ez = O ... (4.113)

=:1_aHz ... (4.114)

✓ Hp= h2 ap

Hth = - 'Y ~ aHz ... (4.115)

/ "' 11 p ail>
✓ Hz = C 0 · J (p h)
11 COS n <1> e-rz ... (4.116)

where h2 = r2 + w2µ£
I

Substituting for Hz in above equations with h =. P11ml a, the complete

.c: ld
lle equa t·iOilS fior TE nm modes in circular waveguides can be shown to
be

Ep rim p}in n<I> ,--,,

= C,, J. ... (4.117)

- C J '(P:un
E<t> - oa )
pl cos nth"' e-yz
11> 11
... (4.118)

...(4.119)
Ez = O
Hp = ·_Co$ Jn'
Zz
(p:,.a p\.) COS n<I> ,--,, ... (4.120)

H<j> = Zz
Co P J (P:im sin nth e-yz
n a ) 't'
pl ... (4.121)

H, = C, J,, (Pim P}as n<I> ,-.,, ... (4.122)

~ _ - E~ the wave impedance in the guide where n = 0,

where Zz = H<j> - Hp '
1, 2, 3, ... and m = 1, 2, 3, 4, ...
 MICROWAVE AND RADAR ENGINEERING
124

4.3.20 Propagation of TM Modes in Circular ~ aveguide

·
For a TM wave to propagate 1n ·
a circu1a r waveguide Hz= 0 and Ez * 0.
Hence the Helmholtz's wave equation is given by.
V2Ez = - w2µ£Ez.
The solution of this equation (similar to TE waves) is given by.
Ez = C Jn (ph) COS nq> e-yz
0
... (4.123)
By applying boundary conditions i.e., Ez = 0 at p = a, we get,
Jn (ah) = 0 ... (4.124)
Since Jn (ah) are oscillatory functions (as shown in Fig. 4.44) there
are infinite number of roots for Jn (ah). The values of these roots for
which Jn (ah) = 0 are called eigenvalues and are denoted by P nm where
Pn,n = ah. A table for these roots for some values ofn and mare shown
in Table 4.4.
Table 4.4 Pnm values for TMnm modes in circular waveguides

~
1 2 3

0 2.405 5.520 8.645

1 3.832 7.106 10.173
2 5.135 8.417 11.620
3 6.380 9.761 13.015

The various field components are again obtain .

curl equations by substituting. ed by using Maxwell's

h =, Pnmla and E z == C J n (a ~
Pnm) • cos n<j> e-yz

~::~~by
O

The variou::e~d ::r;::n:):::

... (4.125)
Ett-.
't'
=C O ~
J Pmn
n -;;- • p sin n<j> e- "(Z
... (4.126)
E z -- Coz J It -Pn,n • p
a cos n<j> e-rz
... (4.127)
Hp = Co~ J P,un
Zz n -;;- · P sin n<j> e-rz
... (4.128}
Hep = ~zP cii
Hz == 0 ... (4.129)

... (4.130)
 MICROWAV E TRANSMISS ION LINES 125

~ 2 1 Cut-Off Waveleng th in Circular Waveguid e

The cut-off wavelengt h is that mode for which the mode propagatio n
constant, yvanishes .
i.e., y = a+j~ = O
where
~ = ✓ro•µe-(2:J
= ✓oiµe-h 2
I

P~~ p
w h ere, h = --
a
1or TE wave and h = --2!E! for TM waves
a
Therefore for TE wave, the cut-off wavelengt h is given by.

A.c_27t_ 21t =_2_7ta_ ... (4.131)

- h - (P:mla) (P:m)
I
'A.c will be maximu~ if Pnm is minimum. From Table 4.3, the minimum
I

values of Pnm is found to be 1.841 for n = 1 and m = 1. Hence TEn is the

dominan t mode in circular waveguide.
21ta
i.e., Ac = 1.841 ... (4.132)

for TE 11 dominant mode of propagatio n.

Similarly for a TM wave
'A, - 21t
C - h

where, h = Pnmla

or Ac=21ta ... (4.133)

Pnm
1\./)omina nt and Degenera te Modes in Circular Waveguid es
1
From the discussion above (Table 4.3 and 4.4), it is very clear that the lowest
order cut-off frequency is obtained when P 'nm= 1.841 for n = I and
m = 1 corresponding to TE 11 mode. Hence dominant mode in circular
waveguide is TE 11. Also from these tables, we see that P' om = P 1m and hence
all the TMom and TM1m modes are degenerate in a uniform circular
waveguide.
The mode field configurat ion of a circular waveguide are shown in
Fig. 4.45.
 DAR ENGINEERING
126 MICROWAVE AND RA

(a) TEo.1 mode

·rr''':'''')~'[(l''';'''W
(b) TMo. 1 mode
Ir L,,,:, ,,,i1) ,~(, .,,,.,,l i1

(c) TE 1.1 mode (d) TM 1.1 mode (e) TE 2.1 mode

Fig. 4.45
,,922 Phase Velocity, Group Velocity, Guide Wavelength and
~-- Wave Impedance
The relations for phase velocity, group velocity and guide wavelength
remain the same as in case of a rectangular waveguide both for TE and
TM modes.
Vg
i.e., = -;:======
✓ 1 - (A,JAc) 2 ... (4.134)
Ao
Ag=---
✓ 1 - CA.JAc) 2 ... (4.135)

=p
coµ -
- 11
✓1 - (AJ'Ac) 2 ... (4.136)

where, VP
')..,--an d
- f

n~{f
MI CROWAVE TRANSMISSION LINES
127

... (4.137)
as before.

Attenuation in Circular Waveguide

Similar to rectangular waveguides, it is possible to determine the
attenuation in a circular waveguide for TE and TM modes. The
attenuation in an airfilled circular waveguide is due fo finite
conductivity of the guides walls and is given by
a= Power loss/unit length
2 (Average power transmitted)
Average power transmitted is expressed as
2n a

(Pnm)au = 21 z
f f [IE$ I + IEp I
O 0
2 2] pd pd<j>

For TErm mode,

(Pnm)TE = '\/.-1----=(fj:-:--:r)::-,,2 2fn fa [ IEp 12 + IE .. j 2] pd pd<)>

'i'

211 0 0
and for TMnm modes,

! ! [IE, I'+ IE, I

2n a

(Pnm)TM = zrdl ~ (/Jf)' 'l pd pdq,

The power loss/unit length (oveer the guide walls)

Pi = ~s ~ Js · Js • d[

The attenuation constant ex for TE and TM modes can finally be

shown to be

exTE = azo ✓ 1R-s ([JfJ2 [(/cJ

f
2

+ (P'nm)n2 - n 2 ]

and
exrM = a Zo ✓ 1 - (fc/f)2
For TMom modes, attenuation falls off as ;3'2 as per
R fc 2
ex = -azo (I'll-'
v 2 - I' 2) ,c V2

This rapid decrease of attenuation with frequency of TE01 mode helps

it to be useful for long low loss waveguide communication links. However,