Lecture 25

Guided Waves in Parallel Plate Metal Waveguides

In this lecture you will learn:

Parallel plate metal waveguides

TE and TM guided modes in waveguides

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Parallel Plate Metal Waveguides

W
d
z
Consider a parallel plate waveguide (shown above)
We have studied such structures in the context of transmission lines
We know that they can guide TEM waves (Transverse Electric and Magnetic)
in which both the electric and magnetic fields point in direction perpendicular
to the propagation direction
But these structures can guide more than just the TEM waves that we have
considered so far .

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Basic Wave Equations

Consider a parallel plate waveguide:
x

o
z

The electric field of any guided wave will satisfy the complex wave equations:

r r
r r
2 E (r ) = 2 o E (r )
r r
r r
2 H (r ) = 2 o H (r )

r r
r r
E (r ) = j o H (r )
r r
r r
H (r ) = j E (r )
We look for solutions of the equation,

r r
r r
2 E (r ) = 2 o E (r )

where the z-dependence is that of a wave going in the z-direction, and where the
E-field is pointing in the y-direction:

r r
E (r ) = y F ( x ) e j k z z

Some unknown function of x

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

TE Guided Modes - I
x

o
z

r r

The assumed solution form: E (r ) = y F ( x ) e j k z z

represents a TE guided wave (Transverse Electric) since the direction of E-field is
transverse to the direction of wave propagation
Plugging the assumed solution into the equation gives:

r r
r r
2 E (r ) = 2 o E (r )

r r
2
2 r r
2

( )
( )
z 2 + x 2 E r = o E r

2F ( x )
x 2

= 2 o k z2 F ( x )

Perfect metal boundary conditions F ( x = 0 ) = F ( x = d ) = 0

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Need to solve:

2F ( x )
x 2

TE Guided Modes - II

= 2 o k z2 F ( x )

With boundary conditions

F ( x = 0) = F ( x = d ) = 0

Solution is: F ( x ) = Eo sin(k x x )

Automatically satisfies the

boundary condition: F ( x = 0 ) = 0

But the value of kx cannot be arbitrary boundary condition at x = d dictates that:

kx =

m
d

where : m = 1, 2, 3, KK
m
x

Solution becomes: F ( x ) = Eo sin

m j k z z
x e

r r

And: E (r ) = y Eo sin

{ m = 1, 2, 3, KK
x

Ey

m=2

m=1

Ey

o
z

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

TE Guided Modes - III

r r
m j k z z
E (r ) = y Eo sin
x e

{ m = 1, 2, 3, KK
x

E-field: m=1 mode

E
z

kz

E-field: m=2 mode

E
z

kz
ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

TE Guided Modes Dispersion Relation

x

Ey

m=2

m=1

Ey

o
z

r r
m j kz z
E (r ) = y Eo sin
x e

{ m = 1, 2, 3, KK

Different m values correspond to different TE modes labeled as TEm modes

The equation:

2F ( x )
x 2

= 2 o k z2 F ( x )

implies:

k z2 + k x2 = 2 o
2

m
2
k z2 +
= o
d

m
k z = 2 o

Dispersion relation for

TEm guided mode

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

TE Guided Modes xCut-off Frequency

Ey

m=2

m=1

Ey

m
k z = 2 o

Dispersion relation for

TEm guided mode

For the TEm mode, if the frequency is

less than:

kz

plane wave dispersion

relation: k z = o

1 m

o d

TE1 mode
dispersion relation

Then kz becomes entirely imaginary

and the mode does not propagate (but
decays exponentially with distance)

TE2 mode
dispersion relation

Cut-off frequency for TEm mode:

m =

o d
1

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

TE Guided Modesx Magnetic Field

Ey

m=2

m=1

Ey

r r
m j kz z
E (r ) = y Eo sin
x e

{ m = 1, 2, 3, KK
r r
r r
E (r ) = j o H (r )

Magnetic field is given by the equation:

r r
jE m
m j k z z
m
H (r ) = o z
cos
x + x j k z sin
x e
o d

d
Note that the perfect metal boundary condition for the magnetic field is
automatically satisfied i.e:

r
r
H x (r ) x = 0 = H x (r ) x = d = 0

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

TE Guided Modes Field Profiles

The E-field and H-field lines for the TE1 mode are shown below:
x

H
E

H
E

kz

r r
m j kz z
E (r ) = y Eo sin
x e

{ m = 1, 2, 3, KK

r r
jE m
m j k z z
m
H (r ) = o z
cos
x + x j k z sin
x e
o d

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

TE Guided Modes Another Perspective - I

Consider TE-wave reflection off a perfect metal:

x
Ei

r
ki

Hi

r
kr

Er

E
z

Hr

r
k i = k x x + k z z

r
k r = k x x + k z z

k z2 + k x2 = 2 o

r r
E (r )
r r
E (r )

x >0

= y E i e j ( k x

x + kz z )

+ y E i e j (k x

= y E i e j ( k x x + k z z ) e j (k x
r r
E (r )
= y 2 j E i sin(k x x ) e j k z z
x >0

x +kz z )

x +kz z )

= 1

x >0

Notice the sine variation of the

y-component of the E-field
ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

TE Guided Modes Another Perspective - II

If another top metal plate is placed at one of the nodes of the sine function
then this additional metal plate will not disturb the field

r r
E (r )

x >0

= y 2 j Ei sin(k x x ) e j k z z
x

Ei
Hi

r
ki

r
kr

Er
Hr

r
k i = k x x + k z z

Ei
Hi

r
ki

Ey

r
k r = k x x + k z z

This is exactly what guided TE modes are TE-waves bouncing back and fourth
between two metal plates and propagating in the z-direction !

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

TM Guided Modes - I
Consider TM-wave reflection off a perfect metal:
x
Ei
Hi

r
ki

r
kr

Er

Hy

Hr

r
k r = k x x + k z z

r
k i = k x x + k z z
k z2 + k x2 = 2 o

r r
H (r )
r r
H (r )

x >0

= y Hi e j ( k x

x >0

= y Hi e j ( k x

r r
H (r )

x >0

x + kz z )

+ y TM Hi e j (k x

x + kz z )

+ e j (k x

x +kz z )

x +kz z )

TM = +1

= y 2 Hi cos(k x x ) e j k z z
Notice the cosine variation of
the y-component of the H-field
ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

TM Guided Modes - II
If another top metal plate is placed at the maximum points of the cosine
function then this additional metal plate will not disturb the field

r r
H (r )

x >0

= y 2 Hi cos(k x x ) e j k z z
x

Ei
Hi

r
ki

r
k i = k x x + k z z

Er

Ei

r
kr
Hr

Hi

r
ki

Hy

r
k r = k x x + k z z

This is exactly what guided TM modes are TM-waves bouncing back and fourth
between two metal plates and propagating in the z-direction !

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

TM Guided Modes xBasic Equations - I

o
z

r r

r r

Need to solve the equation: 2 H (r ) = 2 o H (r )

r r
H (r ) = y G ( x ) e j k z z

Assume the solution form:

It represents a TM guided wave (Transverse Magnetic) since the direction of

H-field is transverse to the direction of wave propagation
Plugging the assumed solution into the equation gives:

r r
r r
2 H (r ) = 2 o H (r )

r r
2
2 r r
2

( )
( )
+
z 2 x 2 H r = o H r

2G ( x )
x 2

= 2 o k z2 G ( x )

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

TM Guided Modes xBasic Equations - II

m=1

Hy

Need to solve:

2G ( x )
x 2

o
z

= 2 o k z2 G ( x )
Motivation for this is obtained from the
TM-wave reflection analysis discussed
earlier

Solution is: G ( x ) = Ho cos(k x x )

kx = m

Hy

m=2

where : m = 0, 1, 2, 3, KK
m
x
d

Solution becomes: G ( x ) = Ho cos

r r

m j kz z
x e
d

And: H (r ) = y Ho cos

{ m = 0, 1, 2, 3, KK

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

TM Guided Modes Electric Field

x

m=1

Hy

Hy

m=2

o
z

r r
m j kz z
H (r ) = y Ho cos
x e

{ m = 0, 1, 2, 3, KK
r r

r r

Electric field is given by the equation: H (r ) = j E (r )

r r
jH
m
m
m j kz z
E (r ) = o z
sin
x + x j k z cos
x e

d
d

Note that the perfect metal boundary condition for the electric field is
automatically satisfied, i.e.:

r
r
E z (r ) x = 0 = E z (r ) x = d = 0

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

TM Guided Modes Dispersion Relation

x

m=1

Hy

Hy

m=2

o
z

r r
m j kz z
H (r ) = y Ho cos
x e
d

{ m = 0, 1, 2, 3, KK

Different m values correspond to different TM modes labeled as TMm modes

The equation:

2G ( x )
x 2

= 2 o k z2 G ( x )

implies:

k z2 + k x2 = 2 o
2

m
2
k z2 +
= o
d

m
k z = 2 o

Dispersion relation for

TMm waveguide mode

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

TM Guided Modes x Cut-off Frequency

Hy

m=1

Hy

m=2

m
k z = 2 o

o
z

Dispersion relation for

TMm guided mode

kz

For the TMm mode, if the frequency is

less than:

1 m

o d

kz =

TM0 mode
dispersion relation

TM1 mode
dispersion relation

Then kz becomes entirely imaginary

and the mode does not propagate (but
decays exponentially with distance)

TM2 mode
dispersion relation

Cut-off frequency for TMm mode:

m =

o d
1

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

TM Guided Modes Field Profiles

The E-field and H-field lines for the TM1 mode are shown below:
x

H
z

kz

r r
m j kz z
H (r ) = y Ho cos
x e

{ m = 0, 1, 2, 3, KK

r r
jH
m
m
m j kz z
E (r ) = o z
sin
x + x j k z cos
x e

d
d

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

10

TM0 Guided Mode Field Profiles

The E-field and H-field for the TM0 mode are:

r r
H (r ) = y Ho e j k z z
Note that fields are not a function of x

r r
k
E (r ) = x z Ho e j k z z

The E-field and H-field lines for the TM0 mode are shown below:
x

E
d
z

kz

The TM0 mode is just the TEM mode that we worked with when dealing with
transmission lines !
ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

11