Lecture No.

13

Waveguides
TEM,TE & TM Modes

RF & Microwave Engineering BETE-Spring 2009

Department of Electrical Engineering Air University

Introduction
There are several ways by which electromagnetic waves can propagate. Coaxial cable. Microstrip Lines Free Space (Unguided) Wave Guide Structures

RF & Microwave Engineering BETE-Fall 2009

Basit Ali Zeb Department of Electrical Engineering, AU

Why Waveguides?
Transmission Lines can only support TEM Waves. At high frequency attenuation, skin effect, and power handling capability limits the use of Transmission Lines. Wave Guides are the solution at microwave frequencies giving us: Medium to Large bandwidth Lower signal Attenuation Greater power handling capacity A waveguide is a metallic hollow structure of meaningful shape which is used for guided wave propagation at high frequencies in an efficient manner.
RF & Microwave Engineering BETE-Fall 2009 Basit Ali Zeb Department of Electrical Engineering, AU

Types of Waveguides
Rectangular Circular Elliptical
In this course, we will only focus on rectangular waveguides.

Theory of waveguides requires an understanding of Maxwell Equations and basic calculus!!

RF & Microwave Engineering BETE-Fall 2009

Basit Ali Zeb Department of Electrical Engineering, AU

Rectangular Waveguide
It is assumed that the waveguide is filled with a material of permittivity and permeability .

RF & Microwave Engineering BETE-Fall 2009

Basit Ali Zeb Department of Electrical Engineering, AU

Concept of Modes
We will first develop an extremely important property of EM waves that propagate in homogenous waveguides. This will lead to the concept of different modes that travel inside a waveguide

RF & Microwave Engineering BETE-Fall 2009

Basit Ali Zeb Department of Electrical Engineering, AU

Solution of Maxwells Equations

Electric and Magnetic field components along x,y,z coordinates Ex,Ey and Hx,Hy are transverse components Ez, Hz are longitudinal/axial components
RF & Microwave Engineering BETE-Fall 2009 Basit Ali Zeb Department of Electrical Engineering, AU

Solution of Maxwells Equations

RF & Microwave Engineering BETE-Fall 2009

Basit Ali Zeb Department of Electrical Engineering, AU

Solution of Maxwells Equations

RF & Microwave Engineering BETE-Fall 2009

Basit Ali Zeb Department of Electrical Engineering, AU

Solution of Maxwells Equations

RF & Microwave Engineering BETE-Fall 2009

Basit Ali Zeb Department of Electrical Engineering, AU

Solution of Maxwells Equations

RF & Microwave Engineering BETE-Fall 2009

Basit Ali Zeb Department of Electrical Engineering, AU

Wave Modes
Transverse Electric and Magnetic (TEM) Transverse Electric (TE) Transverse Magnetic (TM)
In a given waveguide at a given frequency, several field configurations may satisfy Maxwells equations. These field configurations are called wave modes. Every mode has its own propagation characteristics: velocity, attenuation, and cutoff frequency.

RF & Microwave Engineering BETE-Fall 2009

Basit Ali Zeb Department of Electrical Engineering, AU

Waveguide Modes
TE mode TM mode TEM mode

RF & Microwave Engineering BETE-Fall 2009

Basit Ali Zeb Department of Electrical Engineering, AU

TE Mode

RF & Microwave Engineering BETE-Fall 2009

Basit Ali Zeb Department of Electrical Engineering, AU

Wavenumber

RF & Microwave Engineering BETE-Fall 2009

Basit Ali Zeb Department of Electrical Engineering, AU

Wavenumber

RF & Microwave Engineering BETE-Fall 2009

Basit Ali Zeb Department of Electrical Engineering, AU

Cuttoff Frequency
Waveguides always operate above a certain frequency called the cut off frequency. At a frequency below cutoff frequency, field attenuates very rapidly and no wave can propagate.

RF & Microwave Engineering BETE-Fall 2009

Basit Ali Zeb Department of Electrical Engineering, AU

X-Band Waveguide

WR 90 Waveguide in the lab!

RF & Microwave Engineering BETE-Fall 2009

Basit Ali Zeb Department of Electrical Engineering, AU

TM Modes

RF & Microwave Engineering BETE-Fall 2009

Basit Ali Zeb Department of Electrical Engineering, AU

TM Modes Cutoff frequency

RF & Microwave Engineering BETE-Fall 2009

Basit Ali Zeb Department of Electrical Engineering, AU

TEM Mode

RF & Microwave Engineering BETE-Fall 2009

Basit Ali Zeb Department of Electrical Engineering, AU

Mode Distributions

RF & Microwave Engineering BETE-Fall 2009

Basit Ali Zeb Department of Electrical Engineering, AU