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6.10: Rectangular Waveguide- Propagation Characteristics

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In this section, we consider the propagation characteristics of TE and TM modes in rectangular waveguides. Because these modes exhibit the same phase dependence on z, findings of this section apply equally to both sets of modes. Recall that the TM modes in a rectangular waveguide are given by:

˜E(m,n)z=E(m,n)0sin(mπax)sin(nπby)ejk(m,n)zz

where E(m,n)0 is an arbitrary constant (determined in part by sources), and:

k(m,n)z=ω2μϵ(mπa)2(nπb)2

The TE modes in a rectangular waveguide are:

˜H(m,n)z=H(m,n)0cos(mπax)cos(nπby)ejk(m,n)zz

where H(m,n)0 is an arbitrary constant (determined in part by sources).

Cutoff frequency

First, observe that values of k(m,n)z obtained from Equation ??? are not necessarily real-valued. For any given value of m, (k(m,n)z)2 will be negative for all values of n greater than some value. Similarly, for any given value of n, (k(m,n)z)2 will be negative for all values of m greater than some value. Should either of these conditions occur, we find:

(k(m,n)z)2=ω2μϵ(mπa)2(nπb)2   <0=|ω2μϵ(mπa)2(nπb)2|=α2

where α is a positive real-valued constant. So:

k(m,n)z=±jα

Subsequently:

ejk(m,n)zz=ej(±jα)z=e±αz

The “+” sign option corresponds to a wave that grows exponentially in magnitude with increasing z, which is non-physical behavior. Therefore:

ejk(m,n)zz=eαz

Summarizing: When values of m or n are such that (k(m,n)z)2<0, the magnitude of the associated wave is no longer constant with z. Instead, the magnitude of the wave decreases exponentially with increasing z. Such a wave does not effectively convey power through the waveguide, and is said to be cut off.

Since waveguides are normally intended for the efficient transfer of power, it is important to know the criteria for a mode to be cut off. Since cutoff occurs when (k(m,n)z)2<0, cutoff occurs when:

ω2μϵ>(mπa)2+(nπb)2

Since ω=2πf:

f>12πμϵ(mπa)2+(nπb)2=12μϵ(ma)2+(nb)2

Note that 1/μϵ is the phase velocity vp for the medium used in the waveguide. With this in mind, let us define:

vpu1μϵ

This is the phase velocity in an unbounded medium having the same permeability and permittivity as the interior of the waveguide. Thus:

f>vpu2(ma)2+(nb)2

In other words, the mode (m,n) avoids being cut off if the frequency is high enough to meet this criterion. Thus, it is useful to make the following definition:

fmnvpu2(ma)2+(nb)2

The cutoff frequency fmn (Equation ???) is the lowest frequency for which the mode (m,n) is able to propagate (i.e., not cut off).

Example 6.10.1: Cutoff frequencies for WR-90

WR-90 is a popular implementation of rectangular waveguide. WR-90 is air-filled with dimensions a=22.86 mm and b=10.16 mm. Determine cutoff frequencies and, in particular, the lowest frequency at which WR-90 can be used.

Solution

Since WR-90 is air-filled, μμ0, ϵϵ0, and vpu1μ0ϵ03.00×108 m/s. Cutoff frequencies are given by Equation ???. Recall that there are no non-zero TE or TM modes with m=0 and n=0. Since a>b, the lowest non-zero cutoff frequency is achieved when m=1 and n=0. In this case, Equation ??? yields f10=6.557 GHz_; this is the lowest frequency that is able to propagate efficiently in the waveguide. The next lowest cutoff frequency is f20=13.114 GHz. The third lowest cutoff frequency is f01=14.754 GHz. The lowest-order TM mode that is non-zero and not cut off is TM11 (f11=16.145 ).

Phase Velocity

The phase velocity for a wave propagating within a rectangular waveguide is greater than that of electromagnetic radiation in unbounded space. For example, the phase velocity of any propagating mode in a vacuum-filled waveguide is greater than c, the speed of light in free space. This is a surprising result. Let us first derive this result and then attempt to make sense of it.

Phase velocity vp in the rectangular waveguide is given by

vpωk(m,n)z=ωω2μϵ(mπ/a)2(nπ/b)2

Immediately we observe that phase velocity seems to be different for different modes. Dividing the numerator and denominator by β=ωμϵ, we obtain:

vp=1μϵ11(ω2μϵ)1[(mπ/a)2+(nπ/b)2]

Note that 1/μϵ is vpu, as defined earlier. Employing Equation ??? and also noting that ω=2πf, Equation 6.10.21 may be rewritten in the following form:

vp=vpu1(fmn/f)2

For any propagating mode, f>fmn; subsequently, vp>vpu. In particular, vp>c for a vacuum-filled waveguide.

How can this not be a violation of fundamental physics? As noted in Section 6.1, phase velocity is not necessarily the speed at which information travels, but is merely the speed at which a point of constant phase travels. To send information, we must create a disturbance in the otherwise sinusoidal excitation presumed in the analysis so far. The complex field structure creates points of constant phase that travel faster than the disturbance is able to convey information, so there is no violation of physical principles.

Group Velocity

As noted in Section 6.1, the speed at which information travels is given by the group velocity vg. In unbounded space, vg=vp, so the speed of information is equal to the phase velocity in that case. In a rectangular waveguide, the situation is different. We find:

vg=(k(m,n)zω)1=vpu1(fmn/f)2

which is always less than vpu for a propagating mode.

Note that group velocity in the waveguide depends on frequency in two ways. First, because fmn takes on different values for different modes, group velocity is different for different modes. Specifically, higher-order modes propagate more slowly than lower-order modes having the same frequency. This is known as modal dispersion. Secondly, note that the group velocity of any given mode depends on frequency. This is known as chromatic dispersion.

The speed of a signal within a rectangular waveguide is given by the group velocity of the associated mode (Equation 6.10.26). This speed is less than the speed of propagation in unbounded media having the same permittivity and permeability. Speed depends on the ratio fmn/f, and generally decreases with increasing frequency for any given mode.

Example 6.10.2: Speed of propagating in WR-90.

Revisiting WR-90 waveguide from Example 6.10.1: What is the speed of propagation for a narrowband signal at 10 GHz?

Solution

Let us assume that “narrowband” here means that the bandwidth is negligible relative to the center frequency, so that we need only consider the center frequency. As previously determined, the lowest-order propagating mode is TE10, for which f10=6.557 GHz. The next-lowest cutoff frequency is f20=13.114 GHz. Therefore, only the TE10 mode is available for this signal. The group velocity for this mode at the frequency of interest is given by Equation 6.10.26. Using this equation, the speed of propagation is found to be 2.26×108m/s, which is about 75.5% of c.


This page titled 6.10: Rectangular Waveguide- Propagation Characteristics is shared under a CC BY-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Steven W. Ellingson (Virginia Tech Libraries' Open Education Initiative) .

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