2020 10th International Symposium on Telecommunications (IST'2020)
Compact and Narrow-Band Waveguide Filters
Using TM Dual-Mode Cavities for Input
Multiplexer in Communication Satellites
Ahmadreza Eskandari
Department of Electrical Engineering,
East Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University,
Tehran, Iran
ar.eskandari@iauet.ac.ir
Abstract—This paper presents a compact and narrow-band
filter using TM dual-mode cavities, in Ku-band to be used as a
channel filter in IMUX of a satellite transponder. The basic
2020 10th International Symposium on Telecommunications (IST) | 978-1-7281-8012-0/20/$31.00 ©2020 IEEE | DOI: 10.1109/IST50524.2020.9345871
structure is the TM dual-mode cavity. To achieve a compact and
high Q resonator, such a cavity exploits a pair of degenerate
modes (TM120, TM210). In this achievement, a single cavity can
provide two transmission zeroes besides two poles. The design
of a four-cavity filter is reported and compared with the
experimental results at 10.97 GHz center frequency with 36
MHz bandwidth. The obtained results satisfy the specification
requirements. The agreement between HFSS simulation and the
experimental results demonstrates the effectiveness of the
proposed design approach.
Keywords—Dual-mode, cavity, narrow-band, transverse
magnetic (TM) mode.
I. INTRODUCTION
INPUT multiplexers (IMUX) in satellite communication,
have the duty of separating and channelization of the received
signals before amplification stage. The complementary task
of combining the amplified signals after PA stage is done
using output multiplexer (OMUX) with the capability of
handling high powers [1], [2]. Therefore, an IMUX can be
considered as a key subsystem in communication satellite
payloads. A typical IMUX comprises of narrowband
bandpass filters with fraction bandwidth of the order of
0.2~2% [3]-[5]. DR technology is very common in IMUX
realizations due to their capability in size, weight reduction,
and also temperature stability [6]-[8]. On the hand the DR
filters are not easily tuned, and their fabrication technology is
a bit complicated and costly relative to the waveguide
resonator filters [9]-[11].
The dual-mode filter has been the optimum choice for the
channel filters too because of their compact size and sharp
selectivity, low loss, and low cost for decades [5], [12]. The
conventional dual-mode structures are realized using circular
waveguide resonator [13], using two degenerate TE11n
modes. In rectangular waveguides the same technique can be
used with different modes, where the cross section is scaled
so as to generate the degenerated the TE101 and TE011 modes
[14]. In last decades, using the similar concepts, various dual-
mode waveguide filters have been reported in literature [12]-
978-1-7281-8012-0/20/$31.00 ©2020 IEEE
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Ali Kheirdoost
ICT research Institute of Iran (ITRC)
ITRC
Tehran, Iran
a.kheirdoost@itrc.ac.ir
[17]. Also, triple- and quadruple-mode cavities are used for
realization of the channel filters. Although the use of these
cavities results to significant size reduction, the having
temperature sensitivity and hardly tuning cause the
conventional dual-mode cavity superior for most applications
[17]. In general, most of such designs are pseudoelliptic
filtering functions, but the positioning and the number of
transmission zeros is usually limited by increasing the filter
order N. A new TM dual-mode cavity has been proposed in
[18] to overcome this limitation. In this design, the cavity
provides two reflection and two transmission zeroes using
nonresonating modes for a cross-coupling. Therefor
improved selectivity is provided compared to conventional
TE dual-mode filters [18]-[24]. In this manner, the waveguide
cavity size is significantly reduced when it is loaded with a
high-Q DR [8].
In this paper, design and implementation of TM dual-
mode filters are presented to realize one channel filter of
IMUX. These structures are not dependent to the longitudinal
size of the resonator, and the resonator length can be chosen
according to the required Q-factor. Therefore, the structure
becomes more compact than other dual-mode filters, in
addition to being highly selective. Here, a square cavity that
can produce TMmn0 modes, is firstly examined. It is
demonstrated that if the pair of degenerate modes resonating
in these cavities, are the TM120 and the TM210 modes,
minimum volume and maximum Q-factor will be achieved
compared to other pairs of degenerate modes. In the
following, the modal field distribution, the coupling
mechanism between degenerate modes and In/output of the
cavity, the topology of the routing scheme, and the
production technique of the transmission zeroes are studied.
Finally, to satisfy the requirements, a 8th-order TM dual-
mode filter is designed and fabricated. Specification
requirements are as follows: f0=10970 MHz, BW=36 MHz
with greater than 12dB return loss. The pass-band insertion
loss variations should be less than 2dB in the ranges
f0±18MHz and the stop-band rejection should be greater than
18dB in the frequency ranges f0±22MHz. The results
obtained from the measured filter satisfy the requirements,
and also good agreement between the simulation and
measurement results, validates the proposed achievement. independent of the cavity longitudinal size. In the table I, for
a cavity with resonant frequency of 10.97 GHz, specifications
II. THEORY OF TM-MODES IN A SQUARE CAVITY including the maximum length of the square cavity to
generate only a pair of the degenerate TMmn0 modes are
A. Mode Analysis
provided.
For a square cavity as shown in Fig.1(a) for degenerated
modes it is assumed that sides a and b are equal and c is along
the z-axis. Here, the TMmnp modes resonated in this cavity,
are investigated. If the p index become zero, the resonant
frequency of the associated modes will be independent of the
longitudinal size of the cavity as below:
C
( f r )TM m2 + n2
= (1)
2a
mn 0

in which C is the speed of light. Other than TMmnp modes

inside a square cavity[25]. As can be inferred form (1), for
the TMmn0 the cavity length (c parameter) does not affect the
corresponding resonant frequency. The normalized
resonance frequencies of some TM-modes for a square cavity
are marked in Fig. 1(b). Also, for these such modes, Fig. 2
shows the plot of modal field distribution [25], [26].

Fig. 1. (a) The assumed square waveguide resonator, (b) Normalized

resonance frequencies of a square cavity for transverse magnetic modes [24].

As is shown in Fig.1 and Fig. 2, among the first 8 TM-

modes, there are three pairs of the degenerate modes, which
are respectively: (TM120, TM210), (TM130, TM310) and (TM230,
TM320). These pairs of the TM-modes are orthogonal-modes
and have the same resonance frequencies. Whenever a single-
cavity resonator generates a pair of such degenerate modes,
the number of physical cavities to realize a filter are reduced,
and leads to that the size and weight of the filter are compact.
In the following is demonstrated that the pair of (TM120,
TM210) is the optimum choice between the other pairs of the
degenerate TM-modes.
The side wall width of a square cavity resonator for
resonance frequencies of TMmn0 modes can be calculated
using (1). For example, for a resonance frequency of 10.97-
Fig. 2. Transverse modal field distribution for some TM modes for a square
GHz, the cavity side wall width for the first three degenerate resonator.
modes, (TM120, TM210), (TM130, TM310) and (TM230, TM320),
respectively equal to a=30.58 mm, 43.24 mm and 49.30 mm. TABLE I. THE CAVITIES SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE SOME FIRST
These are presented in table I. As mentioned, the resonance DEGENERATED TM MODES AT THE FREQUENCY OF 10.97 GHZ

frequency is independent of the longitudinal direction, Order of a Maximum

therefore, it is fixed by varying the cavity length c. Fig. 3 TM-Modes TMmn0 (mm) cavity length
shows the simulated resonance frequencies of the first three (mm)
2 TM210 30.58 15
pairs of the degenerate TM-modes versus the cavity length. 3 TM120
The cavity length is varying in 2~18 mm range. As seen in 5 TM130 43.24 14.2
this Fig., the resonance frequency of the cavity is not 6 TM310
dependent to the cavity length up to a certain length limit. 7 TM230 49.30 14
After this limit other TMmnp modes with p≠0, are also 8 TM320
generated in the cavity, whose resonance frequencies are not

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 TABLE II. Q-FACTOR DATA OF THE 10.97-GHZ SQUARE TM-CAVITY
TO PRODUCE A PAIR OF THE DEGENERATE TMMN0 MODES (THE FIRST THREE
PAIRS) [24]

Pair TM- Cross Cavity Unloaded Q/A

mode Section Length Q-factor (mm-2)
(mm2) (mm)
6 7060 7.55
(TM120,TM210) 30.58×30.58 10 9900 10.59
= 935 14 11960 12.80
6 7690 4.11
(TM130,TM310) 43.24×43.24 10 11200 5.99
= 1870 14 13910 7.44
6 8000 3.29
Fig. 3. Resonance frequency of a square cavity versuse the cavity length for (TM230,TM320) 49.30×49.30 10 11900 4.90
the first 3 pairs of the degenerated TM modes. = 2430 14 14600 6.00

B. Quality-Factor of the cavity

One of the parameters in a narrowband filter design is to
have a high Q-factor. This parameter is investigated in a
cavity of a filter and it is then generalized to the filter. High
unloaded Q-factor is among the features of a waveguide
cavity resonator[2]. TM cavities are no exception to this
advantage. According to (1), assuming that the resonance
frequency is fr=10.97 GHz, the cavity cross section are given
in table II for the first three pairs of the degenerate modes.
Here, even for small c, the resulting unloaded Q-factor is still
fairly high. Fig. 4 illustrates the Quality factor of TM modes
of a square resonator for different lengths of the cavity (c).
As can be inferred from this figure, increasing the cavity
length result in improved unloaded Q-factor up to a limiting
point where other unwanted modes are excited (Maximum
cavity length). Some example values are calculated and
provided in table II, The Table II results demonstrate that in
such cavities, although the unloaded Q-factor for higher order
TM-modes are higher, but the associated volume and cross
section area are significantly smaller. Therefore, the ratio of
Q-factor to cross section area (Q/A) can be a performance
parameter for selecting the best pair mode. Fig. 4 illustrates
the proposed Q/A criteria versus cavity length for the first six
modes in a 10.97 GHz square TM cavity (coated with silver).
Also, the resulting Q/A for three values of the cavity length,
c=6, 10 and 14 mm, are reported in table II. The results show
that the value of Q/A parameter for the pair mode of (TM120,
TM210) is higher than the others, and it is proved that the pair
of (TM120, TM210) is the optimum choice between the other
pairs of the degenerate TM-modes.
III. FILTER DESIGN
The physical structure of a single cavity TM dual-mode
filter with pair of the degenerate modes (TM120, TM210) is
shown in Fig. 5 [18]. The stepped corners are usually invoked
inside at opposite corners of the cavity as intra-cavity cross
coupling between degenerate modes. The input and output
waveguides are symmetrically placed respect to the
vertical(y) and horizontal(x) axes, while they are displaced
with an offset of dx_I and dy_I as shown in Fig. 5(c). Such a
cavity produces two poles and two zeroes due to using
nonresonating modes to implement a cross-coupling.
Roughly speaking, the position of the feeding cavities usually
adjusts the transmission zero frequencies, while the coupling
irises dimension are mainly used to adjust the filter
bandwidth [18], [20]. Fig. 5 shows the complete geometry of
this structure from different views with various parameters.
The coupling mechanism between the dominant electric TE01
mode of the waveguide feeds and the magnetic modes inside
the cavity is shown in Fig. 6. The relative position of the
input/output port respects to the stepped corners of the
cavities determines the sign of the MSL coupling [see Fig. 6
(b)].

Fig. 4. Simulated unloaded Q-factor and Q/A versuse the cavity length for. Fig. 5. Schematic of a single cavity TM dual-mode filter: (a) Perspective
view in HFSS model, (b), (c) Front view and (d) Side view of the structure.

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 Fig. 8. HFSS simulations of the 10970-MHz TM dual-mode single-cavity
filter for different dimensions of stepped corners (p=2.2, 2.5, and 2.8 mm).

Fig. 6. Magnetic coupling: (a) Transverse magnetic field of the two
resonance modes (TM120, TM210) and dominante TE01 mode, (b) Topology.
Here, all full-wave EM simulations for a TM dual-mode
filter with single cavity are performed by HFSS. All of the
optimum values extracted from the simulations are reported
in Table III. Fig. 7 also illustrates the HFSS simulation of the
optimized single cavity filter. As is clear, the optimal
frequency responses are obtained when the input irises and
output irises are properly placed respect to the center of the
cavity. When the output iris is located at the right of the x-
axes (dx_I=+7.2 mm), two real transmission zeroes are
provided in the frequency response, and when dx_I is equal
to -7.2 mm, no real transmission zero is generated. Also, to
demonstrate the design flexibility, the dimensions of the
stepped corners (pxp) are adjustable. Depending on the p
parameter, bandwidth and transmission zero positioning can
be properly tuned. Fig.8 shows the full-wave simulations of
the single-cavity dual mode TM filter designed with the
different values of the p parameter.
IV. REALIZATION AND EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
To reach the requirements indicated in section I, a 4-
cavity 8-order TM dual-mode filter can be realized using the
principle of the previous section and concepts of the literature
[18]. The coupling between the cavities can also be realized
using thin slot shaped irises [27]. The cross-sectional
magnetic field distributions for the cavities and the relative
positions arrangement of the irises with the stepped corners
are illustrated in Fig. 9(a). This such arrangement generates
two pairs of transmission zeroes. The final structure of the
designed filter (HFSS model) is shown in Fig. 9(b). Table IV
lists all the filter optimized dimensions. The cavity lengths
have been selected 10 mm: which considering silver coated
surfaces, this selection guarantees a 9900 unloaded Q-factor
(see Table II).

TABLE III. DIMENSIONS OF THE TM DUAL-MODE FILTER WITH

SINGLE CAVITY IN 10970MHZ
Parameters Dimensions (mm)
Input/Output Port (ap×bp×lp) 19.05×9.525×10
Cavity (a×b×c) 30.625×30.625×8
Input/Output Iris (aI×bI×t) 13.5×2×1
Step Corner (p×p) 2.45×2.45
Input/output Offset (dx_I=dy_I) 7.2 Fig. 9. 8-Order TM dual-mode filter with 4 cavities. (a) the cross-sectional
magnetic field distributions, (b) structure of the filter.

TABLE IV. FILTER OPTIMIZED DIMENSIONS

Filter section Parameters Values (mm)
Input/Output Port ap×bp×lp 19.05×9.53×15
Iris 1 aI1×bI1×t1 12.53×2.05×1
Offset of Iris 1 (dx_I1 , dy_I1) (0.15 , 6.32)
Cavity 1 a1×b1×c1 30.49×30.63×10
Iris 2 aI2×bI2×t2 2.21×6.94×1
Offset of Iris 2 (dx_I2 , dy_I2) (4.52 , 0.08)
Cavity 2 a2×b2×c2 30.52×30.54×10
Iris 3 aI3×bI3×t3 7.25×2.18×1
Offset of Iris 3 (dx_I3 , dy_I3) (0.08 , 5.41)
Cavity 3 a3×b3×c3 30.53×30.53×10
Iris 4 aI4×bI4×t4 2.30×6.23×1
Fig. 7. HFSS simulation of the 10970-MHz TM dual-mode single-cavity Offset of Iris 4 (dx_I4 , dy_I4) (5.03 , 0.03)
filter with two different position of the input and output ports respect to the Cavity 4 a4×b4×c4 30.48×30.66×10
resonator stepped corners. Iris 5 aI5×bI5×t5 12.61×2.11×1
Offset of Iris 5 (dx_I5 , dy_I5) (-0.12 , 6.23)
Stepped p1=p4 2.61
corners p2=p3 2.42

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 The filter has been fabricated using aluminum layers V. CONCLUSION
coated by silver. The layers have been stacked together, and A novel waveguide filter using TM dual-mode resonators
the measured prototype of the filter is shown in Fig. 10. The has been intriduced for the realization of a compact, narrow-
end-to-end filter length, excluding the feeding waveguide band and high Q channel filter in IMUX of a satellite
(WR-75) flanges, is 41 mm. Based on the measurements, transponder. The designed theory is developed by
unloaded Q factor is estimated to be about 5800. introducing the TM modes analysis in the square cavity. It
The comparison between the simulation and measurement has been shown that, by exploiting the pair of degenerate
results are presented in Fig. 11. Specifications of these results (TM120, TM210) modes, the maximum ratio between Q-factor
are reported in table V. Acceptable agreement between the and cross section area of the cavity (Q/A) can be realized. An
measurement and simulation results makes the design order 8 TM dual mode filter in 10.97 GHz with FBW=0.33%
promising. is designed, fabricated and measured. Amplitude flatness of
1.85 dB inside the passband with high rejection in the out of
band is achieved. The proposed physical architecture is high-
TABLE V. MEASURE SPECIFICATIONS OF THE FILTER FREQUENCY selective, compact, tunable and not sensitive to longitudinal
RESPONSE size of the resonators. Measurements show a good agreement
Items Value with the full-wave HFSS simulations.
Center Frequency (fc) 10.970 GHz
Bandwidth (B.W.) 36 MHz
Insertion Loss 1.5 dB (HFSS)
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
@ fc 2 dB (Meas.) This work was supported by Iran Telecommunication
Returne Loss > 15 dB (HFSS) Research Center.
> 13 dB (Meas.)
Rejection 19.5 dB (HFSS)
(fc ± 22 MHz) 20.3 dB (Meas.)
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