EM Waveguiding

Overview

• Waveguide may refer to any structure that conveys electromagnetic

waves between its endpoints
• Most common meaning is a hollow metal pipe used to carry radio waves
• May be used to transport radiation of a single frequency
• Transverse Electric (TE) modes have E ┴ kg (propagation wavevector)
• Transverse Magnetic (TM) modes have B ┴ kg
• Transverse Electric-Magnetic modes (TEM) have E, B ┴ kg
• A cutoff frequency exists, below which no radiation propagates
 EM Waveguiding
Electromagnetic wave reflection by perfect conductor

EI┴ ER┴ D┴1 = D┴2

EI EI┴
ER D┴1 = εo E ┴1
EI|| ER┴
- - - - - - -
θi θr ER|| y
D┴2 = εoεE ┴2
y
z
E||1 = E||2
z
E┴ can be finite just outside EI|| ER|| EI|| ER|| EI|| ER|| EoI + EoR = 0
conducting surface
y
E|| vanishes just outside and EoT = 0
inside conducting surface
z
 EM Waveguiding
Electromagnetic wave propagation between conducting plates

Boundary conditions B┴1 = B┴2 E||1 = E||2 (1,2 inside, outside here)

E|| must vanish just outside conducting surface since E = 0 inside

E┴ may be finite just outside since induced surface charges

allow E = 0 inside (TM modes only)

k2
B┴ = 0 at surface since B1 = 0
E2
k1 E1
Two parallel plates, TE mode
x
b z
θ b y
 EM Waveguiding
E = E1 + E2
Fields in vacuum
= ex Eo eiωt (ei(-ky sinθ + kz cosθ) - ei(ky sinθ + kz cosθ))
E1 = ex Eo ei(ωt - k1.r)

= ex Eo eiωt e-ikz cosθ 2i sin( ky sinθ ) k1 = -ey k sinθ + ez k cosθ

Boundary condition E||1 = E||2 = 0 k1.r = - ky sinθ + kz cosθ

means that E = E|| vanishes at y = 0, y = b
E2 = -ex Eo ei(ωt - k2.r)

E||(y=0,b) if ky sinθ = nπ n = 1, 2, 3, .. k2 = +ey k sinθ + ez k cosθ

nπ nπ k2.r = + ky sinθ + kz cosθ

k= sinθ =
b sinθ kb
 EM Waveguiding
Allowed field between guides is
Fields
E = ex Eo eiωt e-ikz cosθ 2i sin( ky sinθ )
= ex Eo eiωt e-ikz cosθ 2i sin(nπy/b) E1 = ex Eo ei(ωt - k1.r)
nπ n2π2 1/2
Since sinθ = cosθ = 1 − 2 2 k1 = -ey k sinθ + ez k cosθ
kb kb

k1.r = - ky sinθ + kz cosθ

The wavenumber for the guided field is
n2π2 1/2 E2 = -ex Eo ei(ωt - k2.r)
kg = k cosθ = k2−
b2
n = 1, 2, 3, ..
k2 = +ey k sinθ + ez k cosθ
Ex
k2.r = + ky sinθ + kz cosθ

sin(nπy/b)
y Profile of the first transverse electric mode (TE1)
 EM Waveguiding
Magnetic component of the guided field from Faraday’s Law

∇ x E = -∂B/∂t = -iω B for time-harmonic fields

B = i∇ x E /ω = 2 Eo / ω (0, ikg sin(nπy/b), √(k2 - kg2) cos(nπy/b) ) ei(ωt - kgz)

The BC B┴1 = B┴2 = 0 is satisfied since By = 0 on the conducting plates. The

E and B components of the field are perpendicular since Bx = 0.

The phase velocity for the guided wave is vp = ω / kg = c k / kg

n2π2 1/2 n2π2 −1/2
kg = k2 − Hence vp = c 1 − 2 2
b2 kb
The group velocity for the guided wave is vg = ∂ω / ∂kg= c ∂k / ∂kg = c kg / k

vp vg = c2
 EM Waveguiding
Frequency Dispersion and Cutoff

b b
θ θ’

6 ω
nπ nπ c
k= sinθ = cutoff when sinθ → 1 5
b sinθ kb
ck cn 4
ω = ck = 2πν ν = =
2π 2b sinθ
c ω π n=33 2 modes
νcutoff = or cutoff = (n = 1)
2b c b n=22
1 propagating mode
n2π2 1/2 ω2 n2π2 1/2 n = 11
k g= k − 2
2 = c 2 − b2 vacuum propagation kg
b 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
 EM Waveguiding
Summary of TEn modes
n2π2 1/2
E = 2 Eo (i sin(nπy/b), 0 ,0) ei(ωt - kgz) kg = k2 −
b2

B = 2 Eo / ω (0, ikg sin(nπy/b), √(k2 - kg2) cos(nπy/b) ) ei(ωt - kgz)

Phase velocity vp = ω / kg = c k / kg E B

Group velocity vg = ∂ω / ∂kg = c kg / k

x x
ckcutoff,n c
νcutoff,n = = n
2π 2b

y y
n = 1 mode viewed along kg
 EM Waveguiding
Electric components of TEn guided fields viewed along x (plan view)
n=1 n=2 n=3 n=4

y
Magnetic components of TEn guided fields viewed along x (plan view)

y
 EM Waveguiding
Rectangular waveguides

Boundary conditions B┴1 = B┴2 E||1 = E||2

E|| must vanish just outside conducting surface since E = 0 inside

E┴ may be finite just outside since induced surface charges

allow E = 0 inside

B┴ = 0 at surface

a
Infinite, rectangular conduit x
z
y
b
 EM Waveguiding
TEmn modes in rectangular waveguides
TEn modes for two infinite plates are also solutions for the rectangular guide
E field vanishes on xz plane plates as before, but not on the yz plane plates
Charges are induced on the yz plates such that E = 0 inside the conductors

Let Ex = C f(x) sin(nπy/b) ei(ωt - kgz)

In free space ∇.E = 0 and Ez = 0 for a TEmn mode and ∂Ez/∂z = 0

Hence ∂Ex/∂x = -∂Ey/∂y

By integration
Ex = -C nπ / b cos(mπx/a) sin(nπy/b) ei(ωt - kgz)
f(x) = -nπ / b cos(mπx/a)
Ey = C mπ / a sin(mπx/a) cos(nπy/b) ei(ωt - kgz)
satisfies this condition
Ez = 0
 EM Waveguiding
Dispersion Relation
Substitute into wave equation (∇2 - 1/c 2 ∂ 2/∂t2 )E = 0
mπ 2 nπ 2
∇2Ex,y = − − − kg2 Ex,y
a b
∂ 2/∂t2 Ex,y = - ω2 Ex,y
mπ 2 nπ 2
− − − kg2 - ω2 / c 2 = 0
a b
m2π2 n2π2
2
kg = k2 − − 2
a2 b

Magnetic components of the guided field from Faraday’s Law

Bx = -C mπ / a kg / ω sin(mπx/a) cos(nπy/b) ei(ωt - kgz)

By = -C nπ / b kg / ω cos(mπx/a) sin(nπy/b) ei(ωt - kgz)
Bz = i C (k2 −kg2) / ω cos(mπx/a) cos(nπy/b) ei(ωt - kgz)
 EM Waveguiding
Cutoff Frequency

m2π2 n2π2
2
kg = k2 − − 2
a2 b
ckcutoff c m2π2 n2π2 1/2 m2 n2 1/2
νcutoff = = + 2 =c +
2π 2π a2 b 4a2 4b2
 EM Waveguiding
Electric components of TEmn guided fields viewed along kg
m=0n=1 m=1n=1 m=2n=2 m=3n=1

y
Magnetic components of TEmn guided fields viewed along kg

y
 EM Waveguiding
Comparison of fields in TE and TM modes

www.opamp-electronics.com/tutorials/waveguides_2_14_08.htm
 EM Waveguiding
The TE01 mode

Most commonly used since a single frequency νcutoff,02 > ν > νcutoff,01 can be
selected so that only one mode propagates.

Example 3 cm radar waves in a 1cm x 2 cm guide

1/2
02 12
νcutoff,01= c + = 7.5 x 109 Hz
4a2 4x4.10−4
1/2
02 12
νcutoff,01= c + = 7.50 x 109 Hz
4x1.10−4 4x4.10−4
1/2
12 02
νcutoff,10= c + = 1.50 x 1010 Hz
4x1.10−4 4x4.10−4
1/2
12 12
νcutoff,11= c + = 1.68 x 1010 Hz
4x1.10−4 4x4.10−4