ECE 3317

Applied Electromagnetic Waves

Prof. David R. Jackson
Fall 2023

Notes 20
Rectangular Waveguides

1
 Rectangular Waveguide

Rectangular Waveguide
y

b ,
x
a
Cross section

 We assume that the boundary is a perfect electric conductor (PEC).

No TEMz mode can exist!

2
 Rectangular Waveguide (cont.)

y Why is there no TEMz mode?

z0
E
b
x
a

TEMz mode: k z  k   

2 2
 m   n 
Rectangular waveguide mode (m, n): k z m ,n   k2    
 a   b 
 m, n    0, 0 
m,n 
kz k
3
 Rectangular Waveguide (cont.)
Rectangular Waveguide

 Two types of modes can exist independently:

TMz: Ez only
TEz: Hz only

4
 Rectangular Waveguide (cont.)
Rectangular Waveguide
y

b ,
x
a
Cross section

 We analyze the problem to solve for Ez or Hz (all other fields come from these).

TMz: Ez only
TEz: Hz only

5
 TMz Modes

H z  0, Ez  0

2 E z  k 2 E z  0 (Helmholtz equation)

E z  0 on boundary (PEC walls)

Guided-wave assumption: E z  x, y , z   Ez 0  x, y  e  jk z z

  2 Ez  2 Ez  2 Ez  2
 2   2   k Ez  0
 x y z 
2

  2 Ez  2 Ez  2
 2   kz Ez   k Ez  0
2

 x y 2

6
 TMz Modes (cont.)

 2 Ez  2 Ez
x 2

y 2
  k 2
 k z  Ez  0
2

Define: kc2  k 2  k z2

 2 Ez  2 Ez Note that kc is an
We then have:   k c Ez  0
2

x 2
y 2 unknown at this point.

 2 Ez 0  2 Ez 0
Dividing by the exp(-j kz z) term, we have:   k c Ez0  0
2

x 2
y 2

We solve the above equation by using the method of separation of variables.

Please see Appendix A for the solution.

7
 TMz Modes (cont.)

Solution from separation of variables method: TMmn mode

 m x   n y   jk zm ,n z
E z  x, y , z   Amn sin   sin  e
 a   b 

2 2
 m   n 
k z
m ,n 
 k 2  k c2  k 2     
 a   b 

2 2
 m   n  k     k0 r r
kc2     
 a   b 
 2
k0   0 0  
c 0
m  1, 2,
n  1, 2,

Note: If either m or n is zero, the entire field is zero.

8
 TMz Modes (cont.)

Cutoff Frequency for Lossless Waveguide

2 2 Note:
 m   n 
k z
m,n  Cutoff frequency only has
We start with  k 
2
   a clear meaning in the
 a   b  lossless case (k is real).

Set k z
m,n
0 This defines the cutoff frequency.

2 2
 m   n 
 2 f c   
TM m , n
k f  fc   
 a   b 

2 2
TM m , n cd  m   n  c
nonmagnetic material 
fc      cd 
2  a   b  r

9
 TMz Modes (cont.)

Summary of TMz Solution: TMmn mode

 m x   n y   jk zm ,n z
E z  x, y , z   Amn sin   sin  e
 a   b 
2 2
 m ,n   m   n 
k z  k 2  k c2  k 2     
 a   b 

m  1, 2,
n  1, 2,

Note: If either m or n is zero, the entire field is zero.

2 2
TM m , n c  m   n 
fc  d     (lossless waveguide)
2  a   b 
10
 TEz Modes

E z  0, H z  0
We now start with

2H z 2H z
x 2

y 2
  k 2
 k z Hz  0
2

Guided-wave assumption: H z  x, y, z   H z 0  x, y  e  jk z z

Define: kc2  k 2  k z2

2 H z0 2 H z0
  k 2
c H z0  0
x 2
y 2

Please see Appendix B for the solution.

11
 TEz Modes (cont.)

Summary of TEz Solution: TEmn mode

 m x   n y   jk zm ,n z
H z  x, y, z   Amn cos   cos  e
 a   b 

2 2
 m   n 
k z
m ,n 
 k2    
 a   b 

m  0,1, 2
 m, n   0, 0 
n  0,1, 2

2 2
TE m , n c  m   n 
fc  d     (lossless waveguide)
2  a   b 

Note: Same formula for cutoff frequency as the TMz case!

12
 Summary for Both Modes

 m x   n y   jk zm ,n  z
TMmn E z  x, y , z   Amn sin   sin  e
 a   b 
 m x   n y   jk zm ,n  z
TEmn H z  x, y , z   Amn cos   cos  e
 a   b 
2 2
 m   n 
k z
m ,n 
 k2     same formula for both modes
 a   b 

c  m   n 
2 2 c
m,n 
 d cd 
fc     r
same formula for both modes
2  a   b 
(lossless waveguide)
m  0,1, 2,
m  1, 2,
TMz TEz n  0,1, 2,
n  1, 2,
 m, n    0, 0 
13
 Field Plots

Color denotes magnitude, arrows show direction of electric field.

14
 Wavenumber
2 2
 m   n 
TMz or TEz mode: k z  k  k 2 2
c with kc     
 a   b 

Note: The (m,n) notation is suppressed here on kz.

Lossless waveguide:

2 2
 m   n 
Above cutoff: kz     k2    
 a   b 

2 2
 m   n 
Below cutoff: k z   j      k
2

 a   b 

Recall the general formula for k z : k z    j 

15
 Wavenumber Plot


2
 m   n 
2 
kc      kc
 a   b  “Light line”
  k  2 f 
f
fc

2 2
 m   n 
  k 
2
   , f  fc
 a   b  2 2
m ,n  c  m   n 
fc  fc  d    
2  a   b 
2 2
 m   n 
     k ,
2
f  fc c
 a   b  cd 
r
16
 Guided Wavelength

Recall: The guided wavelength g is the distance z that it

takes for the wave to repeat itself.
2
g 


(This assumes that we are above the cutoff frequency – otherwise

guided wavelength makes no sense.)

After some algebra (see next slide):

d  0 
g   d   (lossless waveguide)
1   fc / f   
2
  r 

Note :  g  d 

17
 Guided Wavelength (cont.)
Derivation of wavelength formula (lossless waveguide):

2 2 2
g   
 2
 m   n 
2
k 2  kc2
k2     
 a   b 

2 2 2 d
g    
k 2  kc2 k 1   kc / k  2 1   kc / k 
1   kc / k 
2 2 2

d

k     2 f 
kc / k  f c / f
kc  c   2 f c 

d
g 
1   fc / f 
2

18
 Dominant Mode

The "dominant" mode is the one with the lowest cutoff frequency.

Assume b < a

y
cd
2
 m   n 
2
(lossless waveguide)
fc     
2  a   b 
c b ,
cd 
r x
a

Lowest TMz mode: TM11

TEz
Lowest TEz mode: TE10 TMz
m  0,1, 2,
m  1, 2,
n  0,1, 2,
n  1, 2,
The dominant mode is the TE10 mode.  m, n    0, 0 
19
Dominant Mode (cont.)
Summary (TE10 Mode)

  x   jk z z
H z  x, y , z   A10 cos  e
 a 
2
 
kz  k 2    k  k0  r
a

cd c
fc  cd 
2a r

2
 
  k2   , f  fc
a
2
 
     k2 , f  fc
a
20
 Dominant Mode (cont.)
Fields of the Dominant TE10 Mode

  x   jk z z
H z  x, y , z   A10 cos  e
 a 
Find the other fields from these equations (Appendix A of Notes 19):

  j  H z  jk z  E z
Ex   2 2 
 2 2 
 k  k z  y  k  k z  x

 j  H z  jk z  E z
Ey   2 2 
 2 2 
 k  k z  x  k  k z  y

 j  E z  jk z  H z
Hx   2 2 
 2 2 
 k  k z  y  k  k z  x

  j  E z  jk z  H z
Hy   2 2 
 2 2 
 k  k z  x  k  k z  y
21
 Dominant Mode (cont.)

Summary of fields for TE10 mode:

  x   jk z z
H z  x, y , z   A10 cos  e
 a 
  x   jk z z
E y  x, y, z   E10 sin  e
 a 
 kz    x   jkz z
H x  x, y , z      E10 sin  e
    a 

where
 j    
E10   2 2 
  A10
 k  kz   a 

22
 Dominant Mode (cont.)
TE10 Mode
y y

z0
E
b
x
a x
Length of arrows denotes magnitude of field Color denotes magnitude of field

y
E

b H

x
a
Spacing between arrows denotes magnitude of field
23
Dominant Mode (cont.)

TE10 Mode

3D View

24
 Dominant Mode (cont.)
What is the mode with the next highest cutoff frequency?
2 2
 m   n 
2
cd 1,0  c
 d  2,0  c  2  cd  1 
fc      fc fc  d     
2  a   b  2a 2  a  2 a/2

2
 0,1 c   cd  1 
fc  d     
Assume b < a / 2 y 2 b 2 b
c
Then the next highest is the TE20 mode. cd 
r
f c
2,0 
 2 f c
1,0  b ,
x
A 2:1 operating band!
a
(lossless waveguide)

Useful operating region

TE01

fc
TE10 TE20
25
 Dominant Mode (cont.)
What is the mode with the next highest cutoff frequency?

2 2
 2,0  c  2  cd  1   0,1 c   cd  1 
fc  d      fc  d     
2  a  2 a/2 2 b 2 b

c y
cd 
r
Assume b > a / 2 (lossless waveguide)

Then the next highest is the TE01 mode. b ,

The useable bandwidth is now lower than before.
x
a

Useful operating region TE01

fc
TE10 TE20
26
 Dominant Mode (cont.)
b a
1
Pz  Re  
2
 E  H *   zˆ dxdy
Power flow in lossless waveguide (f > fc): 0 0
b a
1
  x   jkz z
 Re     E y H x*  dxdy
E y  x, y, z   E10 sin 
2
e
0 0
a

 a  1
  b Re  E H dx
2
y
*
x

 ab  0

  E10  W  (watts flowing down the waveguide)

2
Pz  
 4 
(The derivation is omitted, but please see the formula box above.)

Note: Above cutoff, there is only watts flowing (no vars). Below cutoff there is no watts flowing (only vars).

 Make b larger to get more power flow for a given value of a.

 Keep b smaller than a/2 to get maximum bandwidth.

The optimum dimension for b is a/2

(gives maximum power flow without sacrificing bandwidth).

27
 Dominant Mode (cont.)
Plane wave interpretation of TE10 mode

  x   jk z z  
E y  x, y , z   E10 sin   e  E10 sin  k x x  e  jk z z
k
 x  
 a   a

 e jk x x  e  jk x x   jk z z  e jz  e  jz 
 E10  e Note : sin z  
 2 j  
 2j 

 E10   E10 /  2 j  
E y  x, y , z   E10 e  jk x x e  jk z z  E10 e jkx xe  jkz z  
E
 10   E10 /  2 j  
PW #1 PW #2
x
kx  /a
tan   
(E, H) PW #1 kz  
2
 k  
2

a
PW #2
z
28
 Dominant Mode (cont.)
Losses in Waveguide (f > fc)
  d  c
Dielectric loss:
2
 
k z  k02 r 1  j tan  d        j d Recall :  rc   r 1  j tan  
a

2
  Note:
 d   Im k  1  j tan  d    
2
0 r
If we are below cutoff,
a   attenuation is mainly due to
evanescence, so we don’t
worry about conductor and
dielectric loss then.
Conductor loss:

Rs r  2b  f  2 
c  1   c   [np/m]
b0 1   f / f 2  a  f  
c  
(This is derived in ECE 5317.)
29
 Example
Find the single-mode operating frequency region
for air-filled X-band waveguide.

Standard X-band* waveguide:

a = 0.900 inches (2.286 cm)
b = 0.400 inches (1.016 cm) Note: b < a / 2

Use c
1,0 
fc 
2a
Hence, we have:
f c1,0  6.56 [GHz] X-band waveguide

f c 2,0  13.11 [GHz] * X-band: from 8.0 to 12 GHz.

6.56  f  13.11 [GHz]

30
 Example (cont.)

 Find the phase constant of the TE10 mode at 9.00 GHz.

 Find the attenuation in dB/m at 5.00 GHz

1,0 
Recall: f c  6.56 [GHz]

X-band waveguide
2
 
  k2   , f  fc
a k  k0   0 0  2 f / c  2 / 0
2
  At 9.0 GHz : k  188.62 [rad/m]
     k2 , f  fc
a At 5.0 GHz : k  104.79 [rad/m]

kc   / a  137.43 [rad/m]

At 9.00 GHz:  = 129.13 [rad/m]

At 5.00 GHz:  = 88.91 [nepers/m]
31
 Example (cont.)

At 5.0 GHz:
  88.91 nepers/m 

Recall:
dB/m  8.68589  X-band waveguide

Attenuation  772 dB/m

This is a very rapid attenuation!

32
 Waveguide Components

Straight sections Flexible waveguides Waveguide bends

Waveguide adapters Waveguide couplers Waveguide terminations

https://www.pasternack.com
33
 Waveguide Modes in Transmission Lines

 A transmission line normally operates in the TEMz mode,

where the two conductors have equal and opposite currents.

 At high frequencies, waveguide modes can also propagate on

transmission lines.

 This is undesirable, and it limits the high-frequency range of

operation for the transmission line.

34
 Waveguide Modes in Coax
Dominant waveguide mode in coax (derivation omitted):

c  1  1  Note:
TE11 mode: f TE11
    In this notation, the “11”
a r     1  b / a 
c subscript refers to the
angular and radial variation.

Example: RG 142 coax

a  0.035 inches  8.89  10 4 [m]
b  0.116 inches  29.46  10 4 [m]
 r  2.2 r a
b
b / a  3.31  Z 0  48.4 [] z

f cTE11  16.8 [GHz] L 0 b

Z0   ln  
C 2  r  a 
This coax cannot be used above 16.8 [GHz]
35
 Appendix A: TMz Modes

 2 Ez  2 Ez
We want to solve:
x 2

y 2
  k 2
 k z  Ez  0
2

Define: kc2  k 2  k z2

 2 Ez  2 Ez Note that kc is an
We then have:   k c Ez  0
2

x 2
y 2 unknown at this point.

 2 Ez 0  2 Ez 0
Dividing by the exp(-jkzz) term, we have:   k c Ez0  0
2

x 2
y 2

We solve the above equation by using the method of separation of variables.

We assume: E z 0  x, y   X  x  Y  y 

36
 Appendix A (cont.)
 2 Ez 0  2 Ez 0
  k c Ez0  0
2

x 2
y 2

E z 0  x, y   X  x  Y  y 

Hence X Y  X Y   k c2 XY
X  Y 
Divide by XY :    kc2
X Y
X  Y 
Hence   kc 
2

X Y

This has the form F x  G  y Both sides of the equation

must be a constant!

37
 Appendix A (cont.)
X  Y 
  kc 
2
 constant
X Y
X 
Denote   k x2  constant
X
General solution: X ( x)  A sin(k x x)  B cos(k x x)
y
X (0)  0 (1)
Boundary conditions:
X (a )  0 ( 2) b ,
x
a
(1) B0  X ( x)  A sin(k x x)

(2) sin(k x a)  0
38
 Appendix A (cont.)

From the last slide:

sin(k x a )  0

This gives us the following result:

k x a  m , m  1, 2
m
kx 
a

 m x 
Hence X ( x)  A sin  
 a 

Now we turn our attention to the Y (y) function.

39
 Appendix A (cont.)
We have

X  Y 
  kc 
2
  k x2
X Y

Y 
Hence  k x2  kc2
Y

Denote k y2  kc2  k x2

Y 
Then we have   k y2
Y

General solution: Y ( y )  C sin(k y y )  D cos(k y y )

40
 Appendix A (cont.)

Y ( y )  C sin(k y y )  D cos(k y y )
y
Y (0)  0 (3)
Boundary conditions:
Y ( b)  0 ( 4) b ,
x
a
(3) D0  Y ( y )  C sin(k y y )
(4) sin(k y b)  0

Equation (4) gives us the following result: k y b  n , n  1, 2

n
ky 
b 41
 Appendix A (cont.)

 n y 
The Y(y) function is then Y ( y )  C sin  
 b 
Therefore, we have

 m x   n y 
E z 0  x, y   X  x Y ( y )  AC sin   sin  
 a   b 
New notation:
 m x   n y 
E z 0  x, y   Amn sin   sin  
 a   b 

The Ez field inside the waveguide thus has the following form:

 m x   n y   jk zm ,n z
E z  x, y , z   Amn sin   sin  e
 a   b 
42
 Appendix A (cont.)

Recall that k y2  kc2  k x2

Hence, kc2  k x2  k y2

Therefore, the solution for kc is given by

2 2
 m   n 
kc  
2
  
 a   b 

Next, recall that kc  k  k z

2 2 2

Hence k z  k  kc
2 2 2

2 2
m ,n   m   n 
kz  k z  k2    
 a   b 
43
 Appendix B: TEz Modes
E z  0, H z  0
We now start with

2H z 2H z
x 2

y 2
  k 2
 k z Hz  0
2

Using the separation of variables method again, we have

H z 0  x, y   X  x  Y  y 
where
X ( x)  A sin(k x x)  B cos(k x x)

Y ( y )  C sin(k y y )  D cos(k y y )

and
kc2  k x2  k y2 k z2  k 2  k c2
44
 Appendix B (cont.)

Boundary conditions: y

E x ( x,0)  0 E y (0, y )  0
E x ( x, b)  0 E y (a, y )  0 b ,
x
a
The result is
 m x   n y 
H z 0  x, y   Amn cos   cos  
 a   b 

This can be shown by using the following equations:

  j  H z  jk z  Ez H z
Ex   2 2 
 2 2 
 0, y  0, b
 k  k z  y  k  k z  x
y

 j  H z  jk z  Ez H z
Ey   2 2 
 2 2 
 0, x  0, a
 k  k z  x  k  k z  y x
45
 Appendix B (cont.)

The Hz field inside the waveguide thus has the following form:

 m x   n y   jk zm ,n z
H z  x, y, z   Amn cos   cos  e
 a   b 

2 2
 m   n  Same formula for cutoff
k z
m ,n 
 k 
2
   frequency as the TEz case!
 a   b 

m  0,1, 2
 m, n   0, 0 
n  0,1, 2

Note: The (0,0) TEz mode is not valid, since it violates the magnetic Gauss law:

H  x, y , z   zˆ A00 e  jkz   H  x, y , z   0
46