ECE 5317-6351

Microwave Engineering
Fall 2011
Prof. David R. Jackson
Dept. of ECE

Notes 4
Waveguides Part 1:
General Theory

1
 Waveguide Introduction
In general terms, a waveguide is a devise that confines electromagnetic
energy and channels it from one point to another.

Examples

Coax
Twin lead (twisted pair)
Printed circuit lines
(e.g. microstrip)
Optical fiber
Parallel plate waveguide
Rectangular waveguide
Circular waveguide

Note: In microwave engineering, the term waveguide is often used to

mean rectangular or circular waveguide (i.e., a hollow pipe of metal).

2
 General Solutions for TEM, TE and TM Waves
Assume ejt time dependence and homogeneous source-free materials.

Assume wave propagation in the z direction y

PEC
z
e e jkz z

jkz , kz j
x

E x, y, z et x, y z ez x, y e jk z z
z , ,

transverse J E
components

H x, y, z ht x, y z hz x, y e jk z z

3
 Helmholtz Equation
v
E j H E

H j E J H 0

E j H j j E J

Vector Laplacian definition :

2 E E E

where

2 E x 2 Ex y 2 Ey z 2 Ez

4
 Helmholtz Equation

E j H j j E J

E 2 E j j E J
v
2 E 2 E j J

v
E E j J
2 2 Assume Ohms
law holds:

v J E
E E j E
2 2

5
 Helmholtz Equation (cont.)

v
E E j E
2 2

2 E 2 j E v


2 E 2 c E v k 2
2
c

v
E k E
2 2

Next, we examine the term on the right-hand side.

6
 Helmholtz Equation (cont.)

To do this, start with Amperes law:

v
H j E J E k E
2 2

H j E J
H j E E
0 E j
E 0
In the time-harmonic (sinusoidal steady
v 0 state, there can never be any volume
charge density inside of a linear,
homogeneous, isotropic, source-free
region that obeys Ohms law.
7
 Helmholtz Equation (cont.)

Hence, we have

Ek E 0
2 2

Helmholtz equation

8
 Helmholtz Equation (cont.)

Similarly, for the magnetic field, we have

H j E J

H j E J
H j E E
H j E
H j c E
H j c j H
H 2 H j c j H

9
 Helmholtz Equation (cont.)

Hence, we have

H k H 0
2 2

Helmholtz equation

10
 Helmholtz Equation (cont.)

Summary

Ek E 0
2 2

H k H 0
2 2

Helmholtz equations

These equations are valid for a source-free homogeneous isotropic

linear material.

11
 Field Representation

Assume a guided wave with a field variation in the z direction

of the form jk z
e z

Then all six of the field components can be expressed in terms

of these two fundamental ones:

Ez , H z

12
 Field Representation (cont.)
Types of guided waves:
TEMz: Ez = 0, Hz = 0 TEMz

TMz: Ez 0, Hz = 0

TEz: Ez = 0, Hz 0

Hybrid: Ez 0, Hz 0 TMz , TEz

Hybrid w

r h

Microstrip
13
 Field Representation: Proof
jk z z
Assume a source-free region with a variation e

E j H H j c E

Ez H z
1) jk z E y j H x 4) jk z H y j c Ex
y y
Ez H z
2) jk z Ex j H y 5) jk z H x j c E y
x x
E y
Ex H y
H x
3) j H z 6) j Ez
x y x y

14
 Field Representation: Proof (cont.)
Combining 1) and 5)

Ez 1 H z
jk z jk z H x j H x
y j c x
Ez k z H z k z2
j Hx
y c x j c
E H z
j c z jk z (k 2 k z2 ) H x
y x 2
kc
kc k k
2

2 1/2
z

j Ez H z
Hx
c kz
kc2 y x
Cutoff wave
number

A similar derivation holds for the other three transverse field components.
15
 Field Representation (cont.)

Summary

j Ez H z
Hx
c kz
kc2 y x
These equations give the
transverse field
j Ez H z
H y 2 c kz components in terms of
kc x y longitudinal components,
Ez and Hz.

j Ez H z
Ex
z k
kc2 x y k 2 2 c

kc k k
2

2 1/2
j Ez H z z
Ey 2 kz
kc y x
16
 Field Representation (cont.)

Therefore, we only need to solve the Helmholtz equations for the

longitudinal field components (Ez and Hz).

2 Ez k 2 Ez 0

Hz k Hz 0
2 2

17
 Transverse Electric (TEz) Waves
The electric field is transverse
Ez 0 (perpendicular) to z.

In general, Ex, Ey, Hx, Hy, Hz 0

To find the TEz field solutions (away from any sources), solve

(2 k 2 ) H z 0

2 2 2 2
( k ) H z 0 2 2 2 k H z 0
2 2

x y z

18
 Transverse Electric (TEz) Waves (cont.)
2 2 2 2
2 k Hz 0
x y z
2 2

Recall that the field solutions we seek are assumed to
vary as jk z z
e H z ( x, y, z ) hz ( x, y) e
jk zz

2

2
2 2 k z2 k 2 hz x, y 0 kc2 k 2 kz2
x y kc2

2 2
2 2 kc2 hz x, y 0 Solve subject to the appropriate
x y boundary conditions.

2 2
2 2 hz x, y kc2 hz x, y (This is an eigenvalue problem.)
x y
The eigenvalue kc2 is always real. 19
 Transverse Electric (TEz) Waves (cont.)
Once the solution for Hz is obtained,

jk z H z j H z
Hx Ex
kc2 x kc2 y
jk z H z j H z
Hy Ey
kc2 y kc2 x

For a wave propagating in the positive z direction (top sign):

Ex E
y
Hy Hx kz

For a wave propagating in the negative z direction (bottom sign):

Ex E y TE wave impedance

H y Hx kz

ZTE
kz
20
 Transverse Electric (TEz) Waves (cont.)
Also, for a wave propagating in the positive z direction,

et x, y xe
x x, y ye
y x, y

z et ye
x xe
y ex ZTE hy
z et ZTE xh y
x yh ey ZTE hx
ZTE ht
1
ht ( z et )
ZTE

Similarly, for a wave propagating in the negative z direction,

z et x, y
1 1
ht
ZTE
( z et )
ht x, y
ZTE
21
 Transverse Magnetic (TMz) Waves
Hz 0

In general, Ex, Ey, Ez ,Hx, Hy 0

To find the TEz field solutions (away from any sources), solve

(2 k 2 ) Ez 0

2
2
2

( 2 k 2 ) Ez 0 2 2 2 k 2 Ez 0
x y z

22
 Transverse Magnetic (TMz) Waves (cont.)

2

2
2 2 k z2 k 2 ez x, y 0
x y

k 2
c

2 2 2 kc2 k 2 kz2
2 2 kc ez x, y 0
x y
solve subject to the appropriate
boundary conditions

2 2
2 2 ez x, y kc2ez x, y
x y
(Eigenvalue problem)
23
 Transverse Magnetic (TMz) Waves (cont.)
Once the solution for Ez is obtained,
j c Ez jk z Ez
Hx Ex
kc2 y kc2 x
j c Ez jk z Ez
Hy Ey
kc2 x kc2 y

For a wave propagating in the positive z direction (top sign):

Ex Ey k
z
Hy H x c

For a wave propagating in the negative z direction (bottom sign):

Ex E y k TM wave impedance
z
H y H x c kz
ZTM
c 24
 Transverse Magnetic (TMz) Waves (cont.)
Also, for a wave propagating in the positive z direction,

et x, y xe
x x, y ye
y x, y

z et ye
x xe
y ex ZTM hy
z et ZTM xh y
x yh ey ZTM hx
ZTM ht
1
ht ( z et )
ZTM

Similarly, for a wave propagating in the negative z direction,

z et x, y
1 1
ht
ZTM
( z et )
ht x, y
ZTM
25
 Transverse ElectroMagnetic (TEM) Waves
Ez 0, H z 0

In general, Ex, Ey, Hx, Hy 0

From the previous equations for the transverse field components, all of
them are equal to zero if Ez and Hz are both zero.

Unless kc2 0 (see slide 16)

For TEM waves kc k kz 0

2 2 2

Hence, we have

k z k c
26
Transverse ElectroMagnetic (TEM) Waves (cont.)
In a linear, isotropic, homogeneous source-free region,
E 0

In rectangular coordinates, we have

Ex E y Ez
0 Notation:
x y z

t x y
t E 0 x y
t et x, y e 0 jk z z

e e x, y 0
jk z z
t t

e x, y 0
t t

t et x, y 0
27
Transverse ElectroMagnetic (TEM) Waves (cont.)
Also, for the TEMz mode we have from Faradays law (taking the z
component):
z E z j H j H z 0

Taking the z component of the curl, we have

E y Ex
0 Notation:
x y
Hence
t x y
ey ex x y
0
x y
or

t et x, y 0

t et x, y 0
28
Transverse ElectroMagnetic (TEM) Waves (cont.)

t et x, y 0

et x, y t x, y

t et x, y 0 t t x, y 0

Hence

t2 x, y 0
29
Transverse ElectroMagnetic (TEM) Waves (cont.)
Since the potential function that describes the electric field in
the cross-sectional plane is two dimensional, we can drop the
t subscript if we wish:

2 x, y 0
2 x, y 0

Boundary Conditions:
x, y Va conductor "a"
a b

x, y Vb conductor "b"

This is enough to make the potential function unique. Hence,

the potential function is the same for DC as it is for a high-
frequency microwave signal.

30
Transverse ElectroMagnetic (TEM) Waves (cont.)

Notes:

A TEMz mode has an electric field that has exactly the same shape as
a static (DC) field. (A similar proof holds for the magnetic field.)

This implies that the C and L for the TEMz mode on a transmission
line are independent of frequency.

This also implies that the voltage drop between the two conductors of
a transmission line carrying a TEMz mode is path independent.

A TEMz mode requires two or more conductors (a static field cannot

be supported by a single conductor such as a hollow metal pipe.

31
 TEM Solution Process

A) Solve Laplaces equation subject to appropriate

B.C.s.: 2 x, y 0

B) Find the transverse electric field: et x, y x, y

C) Find the total electric field: E x, y, z et x, y e jk z , k z k

z

1
D) Find the magnetic field: H z E ; z propagating
ZTEM

ZTEM
kz k

32