Rectangular and Circular waveguides

Prof. Ratnajit Bhattacharjee

IIT Guwahati
 Module I
 Brief history of microwaves, microwave frequency bands, Different
applications of microwave, Microwave transmission lines (two-wire,
coaxial, stripline, microstrip line), lumped element circuit model
transmission line.

 Telegrapher’s equations, Wave Propagation on a Transmission Line,

Lossless lines and special cases of lossless terminated lines.

 Lossy lines, distortion-less line.

 Smith chart basics.

 Module II

TE and TM waves, TE and TM modes in rectangular

waveguide, cut-off frequencies.

TE and TM modes in circular waveguide, cut-off

frequencies.

Attenuation in rectangular and circular waveguides.

 Contents

Introduction to Waveguides.

TEM, TE and TM waves.

TE mode in Rectangular Waveguides.

TM mode in Rectangular Waveguides.

 Introduction to Waveguides
 A waveguide is a hollow metallic tube which is used to guide electromagnetic waves.

 In waveguides, electric and magnetic fields are confined to space within the guide by
the conducting wall.

 It is possible to propagate several modes of EM waves within a waveguide. These

modes correspond to solution to Maxwell’s equation for particular waveguide
geometry.
 Introduction to Waveguides
 Here we consider two most commonly used waveguides.

 Rectangular waveguide: a waveguide which has

rectangular cross-section.
b

 Circular waveguide: waveguide having circular cross-

section. a
 TEM, TE and TM waves
 TEM (transverse electric and magnetic) wave propagation refers to a wave
propagation where electric and magnetic field are transverse to the direction of
propagation.

 If z-axis represents the direction of propagation then for a TEM wave both 𝐸𝑧 and 𝐻𝑧
components are zero.

 TE (transverse electric): in this case 𝐸𝑧 component is zero and 𝐻z ≠ 0.

 TM (transverse magnetic): in this case 𝐻𝑧 component is zero and 𝐸𝑧 ≠ 0.

 TEM, TE and TM waves
 In our analysis we initially assume that the waveguide walls are perfectly conducting
and the dielectric within the waveguide is perfect dielectric i.e. no power loss take
place within the waveguide walls and in the dielectric.

 In practical waveguides, there will be small loss of power both in the metallic walls
and within the dielectric.

 Later, we will see how we can estimate such losses.

 It may be noted that a waveguide, being a single conductor geometry cannot support
TEM waves.
 TE and TM waves in Rectangular Waveguides
 In our analysis we assume time harmonic fields with 𝑒 𝑗𝜔𝑡 dependence.

 In the source free region, within the waveguide,

𝛻 × 𝐸 = −𝑗𝜔𝜇𝐻
𝛻 × 𝐻 = 𝑗𝜔𝜖𝐸

 For a wave propagating along z-direction, the z dependence can be written as 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧 .

𝜕
 For such dependence results in to a multiplication by a factor −𝑗𝛽 .
𝜕𝑧
 TE and TM waves in Rectangular Waveguides
From 𝛻 × 𝐸 = −𝑗𝜔𝜇𝐻, we can have We evaluate the y and z components in the same
𝑎ො𝑥 𝑎ො𝑦 𝑎ො𝑧 manner,
𝜕 𝜕 𝜕 𝜕𝐸𝑧
= −𝑗𝜔𝜇 𝐻𝑥 𝑎ො𝑥 + 𝐻𝑦 𝑎ො𝑦 + 𝐻𝑧 𝑎ො𝑧 −𝑗𝛽𝐸𝑥 − = −𝑗𝜔𝜇𝐻𝑦
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝐸𝑦 𝜕𝐸𝑥
𝐸𝑥 𝐸𝑦 𝐸𝑧 − = −𝑗𝜔𝜇𝐻𝑧
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
Considering only the x-component from both sides,
we have In a similar manner, from 𝛻 × 𝐻 = 𝑗𝜔𝜖𝐸, we can
𝜕𝐸𝑧 𝜕𝐸𝑦 write
− = −𝑗𝜔𝜇𝐻𝑥 𝜕𝐻𝑧
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧 + 𝑗𝛽𝐻𝑦 = 𝑗𝜔𝜖𝐸𝑥
𝜕𝑦
For a z dependence of the form 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧 𝜕𝐻𝑧
𝜕𝐸𝑧 −𝑗𝛽𝐻𝑥 − = 𝑗𝜔𝜖𝐸𝑦
+ 𝑗𝛽𝐸𝑦 = −𝑗𝜔𝜇𝐻𝑥 𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝐻𝑦 𝜕𝐻𝑥
− = 𝑗𝜔𝜖𝐸𝑧
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
TE and TM waves in Rectangular Waveguides
𝜕𝐸𝑧 𝜕𝐻𝑧
+ 𝑗𝛽𝐸𝑦 = −𝑗𝜔𝜇𝐻𝑥 + 𝑗𝛽𝐻𝑦 = 𝑗𝜔𝜖𝐸𝑥
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝐸𝑧 𝜕𝐻𝑧
−𝑗𝛽𝐸𝑥 − = −𝑗𝜔𝜇𝐻𝑦 −𝑗𝛽𝐻𝑥 − = 𝑗𝜔𝜖𝐸𝑦
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝐸𝑦 𝜕𝐸𝑥 𝜕𝐻𝑦 𝜕𝐻𝑥
− = −𝑗𝜔𝜇𝐻𝑧 − = 𝑗𝜔𝜖𝐸𝑧
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

From these sets of equation we can express 𝐸𝑥 , 𝐸𝑦 , 𝐻𝑥 and 𝐻𝑦 in terms of 𝐸𝑧 and 𝐻𝑧 . For example:

1 𝜕𝐸𝑧
𝐻𝑥 = − + 𝑗𝛽𝐸𝑦
𝑗𝜔𝜇 𝜕𝑦
and
1 𝜕𝐻𝑧
𝐸𝑦 = −𝑗𝛽𝐻𝑥 −
𝑗𝜔𝜖 𝜕𝑥
TE and TM waves in Rectangular Waveguides
Substituting for 𝐸𝑦 , we get 𝑗 𝜕𝐸𝑧 𝜕𝐻𝑧
∴ 𝐻𝑥 = 2 𝜔𝜖 −𝛽
1 𝜕𝐸𝑧 𝛽 𝜕𝐻𝑧 𝑘𝑐 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
𝐻𝑥 = − − −𝑗𝛽𝐻𝑥 −
𝑗𝜔𝜇 𝜕𝑦 𝜔𝜖 𝜕𝑥 Proceeding in the same manner we can write:
1 𝜕𝐸𝑧 𝛽2 𝑗𝛽 𝜕𝐻𝑧
⇒ 𝐻𝑥 = − + 2 𝐻𝑥 − 2
𝑗𝜔𝜇 𝜕𝑦 𝜔 𝜇𝜖 𝜔 𝜇𝜖 𝜕𝑥 𝑗 𝜕𝐸𝑧 𝜕𝐻𝑧
𝜔2 𝜇𝜖 − 𝛽2 1 𝜕𝐸𝑧 𝑗𝛽 𝜕𝐻𝑧 𝐻𝑥 = 2 𝜔𝜖 −𝛽
∴ 𝐻𝑥 =− − 2 𝑘𝑐 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥
2
𝜔 𝜇𝜖 𝑗𝜔𝜇 𝜕𝑦 𝜔 𝜇𝜖 𝜕𝑥 −𝑗 𝜕𝐸𝑧 𝜕𝐻𝑧
𝐻𝑦 = 2 𝜔𝜖 +𝛽
Let 𝑘𝑐 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
𝑘 2 = 𝜔2 𝜇𝜖 −𝑗 𝜕𝐸𝑧 𝜕𝐻𝑧
𝐸𝑥 = 2 𝛽 + 𝜔𝜇
and 𝑘𝑐 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
𝑘𝑐2 = 𝑘 2 − 𝛽2 𝑗 𝜕𝐸𝑧 𝜕𝐻𝑧
𝐸𝑦 = 2 −𝛽 + 𝜔𝜇
𝑘𝑐 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥

Here, we find that 𝐸𝑥 , 𝐸𝑦 , 𝐻𝑥 and 𝐻𝑦 are expressed in terms of 𝐸𝑧 and 𝐻𝑧 . Therefore, when 𝐸𝑧 and
𝐻𝑧 are known, we can obtain the solution for 𝐸𝑥 , 𝐸𝑦 , 𝐻𝑥 and 𝐻𝑦 .
 TE and TM waves in Rectangular Waveguides
With z dependence given by 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧 , we write

𝐻𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = ℎ𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧
Further,
𝛻 × 𝐻 = 𝑗𝜔𝜖𝐸

∴ 𝛻 × 𝛻 × 𝐻 = 𝑗𝜔𝜖𝛻 × 𝐸

⇒ −𝛻 2 𝐻 + 𝛻 𝛻. 𝐻 = 𝑗𝜔𝜖 −𝑗𝜔𝜇𝐻

⇒ −𝛻 2 𝐻 + 𝛻 𝛻. 𝐻 = 𝜔2 𝜇𝜖𝐻

∵ 𝛻. 𝐻 = 0
∴ we can write,
𝛻2𝐻 + 𝑘2𝐻 = 0
 TE and TM waves in Rectangular Waveguides
Considering the z component
𝛻 2 𝐻𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 + 𝑘 2 𝐻𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 0

Substituting 𝐻𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = ℎ𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧

𝜕2 𝜕2
2
ℎ𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦 + 2 ℎ𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦 − 𝛽2 ℎ𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦 +𝑘 2 ℎ𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦 = 0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

𝜕2 𝜕2 2
∴ + + 𝑘𝑐 ℎ𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦 = 0
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2

where, 𝑘𝑐 = 𝑘 2 − 𝛽2 is called the cut off wave number.

 TE and TM waves in Rectangular Waveguides
𝜕2 𝜕2
The partial differential equation + + 𝑘𝑐2 ℎ𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦 = 0 can be solved by the method of separation
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2
of variables, i.e. by assuming
ℎ𝑧 = 𝑋 𝑥 𝑌 𝑦

1 𝑑2 𝑋 1 𝑑2 𝑌
∴ 2
+ 2
+ 𝑘𝑐2 = 0
𝑋 𝑑𝑥 𝑌 𝑑𝑦
Defining separation constants 𝑘𝑥 and 𝑘𝑦 , we have

1 𝑑2 𝑋
2
+ 𝑘𝑥2 𝑋 = 0
𝑋 𝑑𝑥

1 𝑑2 𝑌 2𝑌 = 0
+ 𝑘𝑦
𝑌 𝑑𝑦 2
where, 𝑘𝑐2 = 𝑘𝑥2 + 𝑘𝑦2
 TE and TM waves in Rectangular Waveguides
Therefore, the general solution for ℎ𝑧 can be written as

ℎ𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝐴 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑘𝑥 𝑥 + 𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑘𝑥 𝑥 𝐶 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑘𝑦 𝑦 + 𝐷 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑘𝑦 𝑦

where, the constants 𝐴, 𝐵, 𝐶 and 𝐷 are to be evaluated from boundary conditions.

 TE Mode in Rectangular Waveguides
Let us now consider the solution for TE modes. y

For 𝐸𝑧 = 0, we get
b 𝜖, 𝜇
𝑗𝛽 𝜕𝐻𝑧 𝑗𝜔𝜇 𝜕𝐻𝑧
𝐻𝑥 = − 𝐸𝑥 = −
𝑘𝑐2 𝜕𝑥 𝑘𝑐2 𝜕𝑦 a x
𝑗𝛽 𝜕𝐻𝑧 𝑗𝜔𝜇 𝜕𝐻𝑧
𝐻𝑦 = − 2 𝐸𝑦 = 2 z
𝑘𝑐 𝜕𝑦 𝑘𝑐 𝜕𝑥
and

𝐻𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝐴 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑘𝑥 𝑥 + 𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑘𝑥 𝑥 𝐶 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑘𝑦 𝑦 + 𝐷 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑘𝑦 𝑦 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧

 TE Mode in Rectangular Waveguides
The boundary condition to be satisfied by the tangential field y
components in the walls of the waveguide are:

b 𝜖, 𝜇
𝐸𝑥 = 0 for 𝑦 = 0 and 𝑦 = 𝑏

a x
𝐸𝑦 = 0 for 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥 = 𝑎
z
The solutions of H𝑧 satisfying the boundary conditions for 𝐸𝑥 and 𝐸𝑦 can be evaluated as:
𝑚𝜋𝑥 𝑛𝜋𝑦 −𝑗𝛽𝑧
𝐻𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝐴𝑚𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑒
𝑎 𝑏
where,
𝑚𝜋
𝑘𝑥 = for 𝑚 = 0,1,2 … . .
𝑎
𝑛𝜋
𝑘𝑦 = for 𝑛 = 0,1,2 … . .
𝑏
and 𝐴𝑚𝑛 is the arbitrary amplitude constant.
 TE Mode in Rectangular Waveguides
We find that propagation constant,

𝑚𝜋 2 𝑛𝜋 2
𝛽= 𝑘2 − 𝑘𝑐2 = 𝑘2 − −
𝑎 𝑏
𝑚𝜋 2 𝑛𝜋 2 For 𝑎 > 𝑏, TE10 (m = 1, n = 0) has the
is real when 𝑘 > 𝑘𝑐 = +
𝑎 𝑏 lowest cut off frequency

Each combination of m and n will give a mode and each mode has 1
a cut off frequency 𝑓𝑐 10 =
2𝑎 𝜖𝜇

1 𝑚𝜋 2 𝑛𝜋 2 Please note: m = 0, n = 0 makes all the

𝑓𝑐𝑚𝑛 = + transverse field components E𝑥 , E𝑦 , H𝑥 and
2𝜋 𝜖𝜇 𝑎 𝑏
H𝑦 to be zero.

above which the propagation condition 𝑘 > 𝑘𝑐 is satisfied. The

mode with the lowest cut off frequency is called the dominant
mode.
 TE Mode in Rectangular Waveguides
So, for m = 1, n = 0, TE10 mode field components can be written as:

𝜋𝑥 −𝑗𝛽𝑧
𝐻𝑧 = 𝐴10 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑒
𝑎
−𝑗𝜔𝜇𝑎 𝜋𝑥 −𝑗𝛽𝑧 y
𝐸𝑦 = 𝐴10 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑒
𝜋 𝑎
𝑗𝛽𝑎 𝜋𝑥 −𝑗𝛽𝑧
𝐻𝑥 = 𝐴10 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑒
𝜋 𝑎 b 𝜖, 𝜇
𝐸𝑥 = 𝐻𝑦 = 𝐸𝑧 = 0
a x
Cut off wave number is given
z
𝜋
𝑘𝑐 =
𝑎
𝜋 2
𝛽= 𝑘2 −
𝑎
 TE Mode in Rectangular Waveguides
 At a given operating frequency 𝑓, only those
modes having 𝑓 > 𝑓𝑐 will propagate.
 Modes with 𝑓 < 𝑓𝑐 will attenuate (as this leads to
an imaginary 𝛽) exponentially and such modes
The wave impedance
are called evanescent modes.
 When more than one modes propagate in the 𝜇
waveguide, the waveguide is called overmoded. 𝐸𝑥 𝜔𝜇 𝜔 𝜇𝜖 𝑘𝜂
𝜖
𝑍TE = = = =
𝐻𝑦 𝛽 𝛽 𝛽
We have
𝑗𝜔𝜇 𝜕𝐻𝑧 In the same manner,
𝐸𝑥 = − 2
𝑘𝑐 𝜕𝑦
𝑗𝛽 𝜕𝐻𝑧 −𝐸𝑦 𝑘𝜂
𝐻𝑦 = − 2 𝑍TE = =
𝑘𝑐 𝜕𝑦 𝐻𝑥 𝛽
 TE Mode in Rectangular Waveguides
2𝜋 2𝜋
 We have 𝑘 = 𝜔 𝜇𝜖 = and 𝑘𝑐 =
𝜆 𝜆𝑐

2𝜋 2𝜋
 The guide wavelength is given by 𝜆𝑔 = =
𝛽
𝑘 2 −𝑘𝑐2

 Therefore,
2𝜋 𝜆 𝜆
𝜆𝑔 = = =
2 2 2 2
2𝜋 2𝜋 𝜆 𝑓𝑐
− 1− 1−
𝜆 𝜆𝑐 𝜆𝑐 𝑓

𝜔 𝜔 1
 Note that: 𝑣𝑝 = > =
𝛽 𝑘 𝜇𝜖
 TM Modes in Rectangular Waveguide
For the TM modes we have,

𝐻𝑧 = 0 and the 𝐸𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑒𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧

𝛽= 𝑘 2 − 𝑘𝑐2

𝑗𝜔𝜖 𝜕𝐸𝑧 𝑗𝛽 𝜕𝐸𝑧

𝐻𝑥 = 2 𝐸𝑥 = 2
𝑘𝑐 𝜕𝑦 𝑘𝑐 𝜕𝑥
−𝑗𝜔𝜖 𝜕𝐸𝑧 −𝑗𝛽 𝜕𝐸𝑧
𝐻𝑦 = 𝐸𝑦 = 2
𝑘𝑐2 𝜕𝑥 𝑘𝑐 𝜕𝑦
 TM Modes in Rectangular Waveguide
Similar to TE case, considering the z component of the electric field we can write

𝛻 2 𝐸𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 + 𝑘 2 𝐸𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 0

Substituting 𝐸𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = e𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧

𝜕2 𝜕2 2 e 𝑥, 𝑦 +𝑘 2 e 𝑥, 𝑦 = 0
e𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦 + e𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦 − 𝛽 𝑧 𝑧
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2

𝜕2 𝜕2
∴ 2
+ 2 + 𝑘𝑐2 e𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦 = 0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

where, 𝑘𝑐 = 𝑘 2 − 𝛽2 is called the cut off wave number.

 TM Modes in Rectangular Waveguide
𝜕2 𝜕2
The partial differential equation + + 𝑘𝑐2 e𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦 = 0 can be solved by the method of separation
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2
of variables, i.e. by assuming
e𝑧 = X 𝑥 Y 𝑦

1 𝑑2 X 1 𝑑2 Y
∴ 2
+ 2
+ 𝑘𝑐2 = 0
X 𝑑𝑥 Y 𝑑𝑦
Defining separation constants 𝑘𝑥 and 𝑘𝑦 , we have

1 𝑑2 X
2
+ 𝑘𝑥2 X = 0
X 𝑑𝑥

1 𝑑2 Y 2Y = 0
+ 𝑘𝑦
Y 𝑑𝑦 2
where, 𝑘𝑐2 = 𝑘𝑥2 + 𝑘𝑦2
 TM Modes in Rectangular Waveguide
Therefore, the general solution for 𝑒𝑧 can be written as

𝑒𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝐴 cos 𝑘𝑥 𝑥 + 𝐵 sin 𝑘𝑥 𝑥 𝐶 cos 𝑘𝑦 𝑦 + 𝐷 sin 𝑘𝑦 𝑦

where, the constants 𝐴, 𝐵, 𝐶 and 𝐷 are to be evaluated from boundary conditions.

E𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝐴 cos 𝑘𝑥 𝑥 + 𝐵 sin 𝑘𝑥 𝑥 𝐶 cos 𝑘𝑦 𝑦 + 𝐷 sin 𝑘𝑦 𝑦 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧

 TM Mode in Rectangular Waveguides
The boundary condition to be satisfied by the Ez are y
𝐸𝑧 = 0 for 𝑦 = 0 and 𝑦 = 𝑏

b 𝜖, 𝜇
𝐸𝑧 = 0 for 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥 = 𝑎
a x
z
The solutions of E𝑧 satisfying the boundary conditions can be evaluated as:

𝑚𝜋𝑥 𝑛𝜋𝑦 −𝑗𝛽𝑧

𝐸𝑧 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝐵𝑚𝑛 sin sin 𝑒
𝑎 𝑏
where,
𝑚𝜋
𝑘𝑥 = for 𝑚 = 1,2 … . .
𝑎
𝑛𝜋
𝑘𝑦 = for 𝑛 = 1,2 … . .
𝑏
and 𝐵𝑚𝑛 is the arbitrary amplitude constant.
 TM Modes in Rectangular Waveguide
 As in the TE case
1 𝑚𝜋 2 𝑛𝜋 2
𝑓𝑐𝑚𝑛 = +
2𝜋 𝜖𝜇 𝑎 𝑏

 We observe that the lowest order TM mode is TM11 .

 The wave impedance related to the TM modes are

𝐸𝑥 −𝐸𝑦 𝛽𝜂
𝑍TM = = =
𝐻𝑦 𝐻𝑥 𝑘
 Example
Let us consider a rectangular waveguide WR-90 for which 𝑎 = 2.286 cm and 𝑏 =
1.016 cm. For such air-filled waveguide, the cut-off frequencies for different modes of
wave propagation are:

Mode Cut-off frequency Mode Cut-off frequency

(in GHz) (in GHz)
TE10 6.5617 TE01 14.764

TE20 13.123 TE11 and TM11 16.156

 It can be seen that the dominant mode is TE10 and there is no wave propagation
below 6.5617 GHz.

 Two modes having the same cutoff frequency are called degenerate modes. Here
TE11 and TM11 are degenerate modes
 Next Lecture

TE and TM modes in circular waveguide.

Cut-off frequencies.