Transmission Characteristics of Hybrid Modes in Corrugated Waveguides Above the Bragg Frequency

Abstract

We studied the transmission characteristics of hybrid modes in a corrugated circular waveguide above the Bragg frequency to develop a broad-band transmission line for millimeter waves. Millimeter waves at 294 GHz were transmitted into a straight waveguide. From observed power profiles in waveguide cross-sections, a high attenuation rate of 0.13 dB/m was obtained. To match a theoretical attenuation constant with the experimental one, we introduced an ad hoc coefficient of conventional surface reactance in the waveguide wall. This was necessary because the wall began to look like the surface with a decreasing anisotropic reactance owing to the frequency above the Bragg frequency. Using nonlinear optimization for mode content analysis, the observed power profiles in the waveguide cross-section were matched with theoretical profiles. There was good agreement between the calculated and observed centers of power profiles and attenuation rate along the waveguide. The theoretical analysis showed that the magnetic field at the waveguide wall increases and the substantial attenuation takes place. Above the Bragg frequency coupling to backwards propagating modes is a point of consideration. A combination of the backwards propagating EH1,26 and the forward propagating HE11 modes satisfied the Bragg condition at 294.7 GHz which was the nearest frequency of operating frequency. A strong attenuation of the incoming HE11 mode by Bragg resonance was not expected due to large difference of 0.7 GHz. It becomes clear that the observed high transmission loss outside of the Bragg resonance can be explained by a decrease in anisotropic surface reactance at the wall.