Waveguides

Rectangular Waveguides
TEM, TE and TM waves
Cutoff Frequency
Wave Propagation
Wave Velocity,

Waveguides

In the previous chapters, a pair of

conductors was used to guide
electromagnetic wave propagation.
This propagation was via the
transverse electromagnetic (TEM)
mode, meaning both the electric and
magnetic field components were
transverse, or perpendicular, to the
direction of propagation.
In this chapter we investigate waveguiding structures that support
propagation in non-TEM modes,
namely in the transverse electric (TE)
and transverse magnetic (TM) modes.
In general, the term waveguide refers
to constructs that only support nonTEM mode propagation. Such
constructs share an important trait:
they are unable to support wave
propagation below a certain frequency,
termed the cutoff frequency.

Rectangular
waveguide

Dielectric Waveguide

Circular
waveguide

Optical Fiber

Rectangular Waveguide

Let us consider a rectangular waveguide with

interior dimensions are a x b,
Waveguide can support TE and TM modes.

Rectangular Waveguide

In TE modes, the electric field is transverse to

the direction of propagation.
In TM modes, the magnetic field that is
transverse and an electric field component is
in the propagation direction.

The order of the mode refers to the field

configuration in the guide, and is given by m
and n integer subscripts, TEmn and TMmn.

Location of modes

The m subscript corresponds to the number of

half-wave variations of the field in the x
direction, and
The n subscript is the number of half-wave
variations in the y direction.

A particular mode is only supported above its

cutoff frequency. The cutoff frequency is
given by
fcmn

1
2
1

m n

a b
1

o r o r

2 r r
1

o o

r r

m
n

a
b

r r

where c 3 108 m/s

Rectangular Waveguide
The cutoff frequency is given by

Rectangular Waveguide

For air r 1
fcmn

c
2 r r

m n

a b

and r 1

fcmn

c m n

2 a b

where c 3 108 m/s

Table 7.1: Some Standard Rectangular Waveguide

Waveguide
Designation

a
(in)

b
(in)

t
(in)

fc10
(GHz)

freq range
(GHz)

WR975

9.750

4.875

.125

.605

.75 1.12

WR650

6.500

3.250

.080

.908

1.12 1.70

WR430

4.300

2.150

.080

1.375

1.70 2.60

WR284

2.84

1.34

.080

2.08

2.60 3.95

WR187

1.872

.872

.064

3.16

3.95 5.85

WR137

1.372

.622

.064

4.29

5.85 8.20

WR90

.900

.450

.050

6.56

8.2 12.4

WR62

.622

.311

.040

9.49

12.4 - 18

Location of modes

To understand the concept of cutoff frequency, you can use the analogy of a road
system with lanes having different speed limits.

Rectangular Waveguide

Let us take a look at the field pattern for two

modes, TE10 and TE20
In both cases, E only varies in the x direction;
since n = 0, it is constant in the y direction.
For TE10, the electric field has a half sine wave
pattern, while for TE20 a full sine wave pattern
is observed.

Rectangular Waveguide

Rectangular Waveguide

Example

Let us calculate the cutoff frequency for the first four modes of WR284 waveguide.
From Table 7.1 the guide dimensions are a = 2.840 mils and b = 1.340 mils.
Converting to metric units we have a = 7.214 cm and b = 3.404 cm.
2

fcmn

TE10: f c10

c m n

2 a b

where c 3 108 m/s

3 x108 m

s 100cm 2.08 GHz

2a 2 7.214cm 1m

TE01: fc 01

TE10

3 x108 m

TE20: f c 20 c 4.16 GHz

a

TE11: f c11

7.214cm 3.404cm

TE01

2.08 GHz 4.16 GHz 4.41 GHz 4.87 GHz

s 100cm 4.41 GHz

2b 2 3.404cm 1m

3 x108 m

TE20

TM11
TE11

100cm
1m

4.87 GHz

Rectangular Waveguide
Example

For air c 3 108 m/s

Rectangular Waveguide - Wave Propagation

We can achieve a qualitative understanding of
wave propagation in waveguide by considering the
wave to be a superposition of a pair of TEM waves.
Let us consider a TEM wave propagating in the z
direction. Figure shows the wave fronts; bold lines
indicating constant phase at the maximum value of
the field (+Eo), and lighter lines indicating constant
phase at the minimum value (-Eo).
The waves propagate at a velocity uu, where the u
subscript indicates media unbounded by guide
walls. In air, uu = c.

Rectangular Waveguide - Wave Propagation

Now consider a pair of identical TEM waves, labeled
as u+ and u- in Figure (a). The u+ wave is
propagating at an angle + to the z axis, while the uwave propagates at an angle .
These waves are combined in Figure (b). Notice that
horizontal lines can be drawn on the superposed
waves that correspond to zero field. Along these lines
the u+ wave is always 180 out of phase with the uwave.

Rectangular Waveguide - Wave Propagation

Since we know E = 0 on a perfect conductor, we can replace
the horizontal lines of zero field with perfect conducting walls.
Now, u+ and u- are reflected off the walls as they propagate
along the guide.
The distance separating adjacent zero-field lines in Figure (b),
or separating the conducting walls in Figure (a), is given as the
dimension a in Figure (b).
The distance a is determined by the angle and by the
distance between wavefront peaks, or the wavelength . For a
given wave velocity uu, the frequency is f = uu/.
If we fix the wall separation at a, and change the frequency, we
must then also change the angle if we are to maintain a
propagating wave. Figure (b) shows wave fronts for the u+
wave.
The edge of a +Eo wave front (point A) will line up with the edge
of a Eo front (point B), and the two fronts must be /2 apart for
the m = 1 mode.

(a)

a
(b)

Rectangular Waveguide - Wave Propagation

For any value of m, we can write by simple trigonometry
sin

m 2

2a
m

sin

uu
f

The waveguide can support propagation as long as the wavelength

is smaller than a critical value, c, that occurs at = 90, or

2a
m

uu
fc

Where fc is the cutoff frequency for the propagating mode.

We can relate the angle to the operating frequency and
the cutoff frequency by

sin

c
c
f

Rectangular Waveguide - Wave Propagation

The time tAC it takes for the wavefront to move from A
to C (a distance lAC) is
t AC

Distance from A to C
Wavefront Velocity

l AC
uu

m 2
uu

A constant phase point moves along the wall from A to D. Calling

this phase velocity up, and given the distance lAD is
l AD

m 2
cos

Then the time tAD to travel from A to D is

l
m 2
t AD AD
up
cos u p
Since the times tAD and tAC must be equal, we have
up

uu

cos

Rectangular Waveguide - Wave Propagation

The Wave velocity is given by
uu

o r o r

Phase velocity

o o

r r

up

r r

Wave velocity
Group velocity

where c 3 108 m/s

The Phase velocity is given by

up

cos

cos

uu

up

uu

using

fc

Analogy!

cos 1 sin 1 fc f
2

u p Phase velocity
Wave velocity

The Group velocity is given by

uu

uG uu cos
uG uu 1

fc

Beach

Point of contact

uG Group velocity
2

Ocean

uu

Rectangular Waveguide - Wave Propagation

The phase constant is given by
u 1

fc

The guide wavelength is given by

u

fc

The ratio of the transverse electric field to the transverse magnetic field for a
propagating mode at a particular frequency is the waveguide impedance.
For a TE mode, the wave impedance is
TE
Z mn

f
1 c
f

For a TM mode, the wave impedance is

2

f
TM
Z mn
u 1 c .
f

Rectangular Waveguide
Example

Rectangular Waveguide
Example
Lets determine the TE mode impedance looking into a 20 cm long section of shorted WR90
waveguide operating at 10 GHz.
From the Waveguide Table 7.1, a = 0.9 inch (or) 2.286 cm and b = 0.450 inch (or) 1.143 cm.
2

fcmn

c m n

2 a b

Mode Cutoff Frequency

Mode Cutoff Frequency

TE10

TE10

6.56 GHz
13.12 GHz
13.13 GHz

TE20

13.12 GHz Rearrange TE01

TE20
14.67 GHz
TE11
13.13 GHz

TE02

26.25 GHz

TE02

26.25 GHz

TE01
TE11

TE10

TE01 TE20

6.56 GHz

TM11
TE11

6.56 GHz 13.12 GHz

14.67 GHz
13.13 GHz

TE02
26.25 GHz

At 10 GHz, only the TE10 mode is supported!

14.67 GHz

Rectangular Waveguide
Example

The impedance looking into a short circuit is

given by
TE
Z IN jZ10
tan l

Z IN j 500 tan 158

0.2m
m

rad

Z IN j 500 tan 31.6 j100

The TE10 mode impedance

TE
10

120

1-

6.56GHz

10GHz

500.

The TE10 mode propagation constant is

given by
2

2 f
f
fc
1 c
1
c
f
f

2 10 x109 Hz
3 x108 m

rad
6.56GHz
1
158
m
10GHz