COMPELThe International Journal for Computation and Mathematics in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Vol. 4, No.

1, 43-53 1985 BOOLE PRESS LIMITED

CUT-OFF FREQUENCIES OF QUAD-RIDGED WAVEGUIDES USED IN THE DESIGN OF MICROWAVE CIRCULARPOLARISERS P. DALY
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom

ABSTRACT: In microwave radio-frequency technology, the design of broadband circular polarisers involves the use of waveguides having different propagation velocities for two orthogonal, linearlypolarised modes. To achieve this aim, square ridged waveguides with dielectric inserts may be employed to disturb the symmetry of the dual linear polarisations. The computation of the cut-off frequencies of the structure is achieved by the use of a finite-element method which makes full use of powerful pre- and post-processing techniques.

1. INTRODUCTION The design of microwave transmission links calls, in certain important cases, for a broadband circularly-polarised radio frequency signal to be sent from the transmit ting antenna. This, in turn, demands the generation of the rf signal by combining two orthogonal, linearly-polarised modes over the required broadband frequency range. In microwave technology the broadbanding of rectangular waveguides is normally accomplished [1-4] by inserting metallic ridges into the waveguide at the centre of the broad wall. On the dominant mode, this has the effect of introducing extra capacitance between top and bottom walls and a consequent reduction in the cut-off frequency. The effect on higher modes is different because their electric fields are not concentrated between the ridge and the bottom wall. The insertion of the ridge along the top or both top and bottom walls results in a structure appropriately called single- or double-ridged waveguide. By making the waveguide square and inserting ridges into the waveguide on all four walls, a symmetric structure is produced quad-ridged waveguidewhich has a doubly-degenerate dominant mode whose E-field is either along the vertical or horizontal axis. These two orthogonal, dominant modes have broad bandwidth owing to the presence of the ridges and provide the means of coupling two linearly-polarised microwave carriers into a single circularly-polarised carrier. The degeneracy is removed by the introduction of a low-loss dielectric strip along a symmetry axis. As a result, the two propagating dominant modes have different propagation constants. This is turn implies that after a certain distance of travel along the axis of the waveguide, the two modes will have a phase difference of 90. By definition, the combination of two orthogonal carriers of the same frequency with a 90 phase shift between them results in a microwave carrier which is circularly polarised at this point and may be directly transmitted
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P. Daly: Cut-off frequencies of quad-ridged waveguides

from a suitable antenna. In a dielectric quad-ridged square waveguide the problem arises of computing the propagation constants of the two dominant modes in order to design the polariser and also of discovering the precise effect the ridges and dielectric have on the bandwidth. Since the bandwidth is effectively defined by the separation in the cut-off frequency of the dominant and higher-order modes, any attempt to answer this question must involve a computation of cut-off characteristics not only of the dominant modes but also of the higher-order modes as well. In this paper, the problem is attacked by using the finite-element method to set up a matrix eigenvalue equation whose solution gives both eigenvalues (cut-off wavenumbers) and eigenvectors (values of the longitudinal field of each mode). The basic approach to the problem is to break down the structure into an ensemble of triangular elements over which the field is first discretised and then reduced to a base matrix equation using a standard variational expression of the Helmholtz equation. Standard techniques for Cartesian geometries have been extensively developed and used by a number of authors [5-7]. In this paper, an attempt is made to use sophisticated processing techniques to overcome some of the practical problems involved with handling large quantities of both input and output data in order to improve the flexibility and ease of user interaction with the computer.

2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM In the design of broadband microwave circular polarisers, quad-ridged waveguides are used with dielectric inserts along an axis of waveguide symmetry, see Fig. 1. Normally a symmetrical arrangement of four ridges is used to produce a doublydegenerate dominant mode whose cut-off frequency is substantially lower than that of the square waveguide with the same outside dimensions. Since the cut-off frequency of the next higher-order mode in a quad-ridged waveguide is actually increased by introducing ridges, it follows that the bandwidththe frequency over which the dominant mode alone propagatesis increased as compared with the no-ridge case. In practice, it is quite easy to obtain increases in bandwidth by factors of the order of two or three. With reference to Fig. 1, the dielectric insert shown has the purpose of splitting the degeneracy of the dominant mode so as to produce a relative phase shift between them. A combination of two orthogonal linear polarisations with a 90 phase shift between them results in a circularly polarised wave. It follows that a knowledge of the phase constants of both orthogonal modes, one with vertical polarisation and the other horizontal, can be used to predict the axial waveguide length over which a relative phase shift of 90 occurs. In fact, if one assumes operation at frequencies well removed from cut-off, the relation between differential phase constant and the cut-off frequency is given approximately by the expression: (c ) ( c ) = c c
K

(1)

where c is cut-off angular frequency and K is the permittivity of the dielectric insert.

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45

In essence the design of quad-ridged waveguides for broadbanding circularly polarised microwave radiation boils down to a computation of the phase charac teristics of two linearly-independent split-degeneracy dominant modes and the separation in frequency between the cut-off frequencies of these modes and the higher-order modes. Strictly speaking the introduction of the dielectric produces hybrid modes which are neither H- or E-modes but, in fact, their perturbing effect on the field is small enough for a single-scalar approach to be successful. 3. FINITE-ELEMENT MATRICES AND PRE-PROCESSING It is well known that, in uniform waveguides with metallic boundaries, the fields can be described by a single scalar f satisfying the Helmholtz wave equation. A variational expression for the cut-off wavenumber is easily obtained and a finiteelement discretisation over a triangle leads to a base matrix equation Sf = x
KTf

(2)

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P. Daly: Cut-off frequencies of quad-ridged waveguides

where f is a vector of three local values of f at the triangle vertices and K is the dielectric constant within the triangle. The symmetric base matrices S and T are well-known and available in the literature [5]. A summation of equations of type (2) over an entire cross-section leads to a much larger matrix equation whose order is the total number of points ( n ) in the cross-section: Af = Bf (3)

where f now is of order n and the eigenvalue is the cut-off wavenumber of the waveguides under discussion. Matrices A and B are both real, symmetric and banded, assembled step-by-step by adding contributions from all the elements in turn. It should be added that the natural boundary condition for such variational formulations is a Neumann condition which, translated into electrical engineering terms, means that boundaries where the E -vector is normala metallic boundary automatically satisfy the natural condition. The only external condition which must be forced occurs when the boundary condition is of Dirichlet typewhere the H-vector is normal. It is obvious from the preceding statements that the construction of the finiteelement matrices A and B from the base matrices is a repetitive process ideally suited to automation. For this reason the pre-processing of the input data description of the actual geometry and physical constantsis done in such a way as to allow the computer to perform the most time-consuming manipulative operations. Basically all problem geometries are defined as a sub-set of a bounding rectangular (or square in the present case) grid of points connected so as to produce a set of triangles. At this stage the actual physical dimensions of a structure are not necessary since the question of definition of the finite-elements for a particular structure is essentially topological, see reference [8] for a discussion of this point with reference to Laplacian problems. The most flexible approach leads to a sub-division of the structure purely in terms of individual triangles. In the present problem under discussion, it is simpler to use rectangular elements which are themselves built up from four triangular elements with four points at the corners and one at the join of the diagonals. Each point within the cross-section is then labelled according to whether the point (i) lies within or on the boundary of the structure, (ii) outside the structure or (iii) has known value zero. Coded integers 9, 0 and 1cases (i)-(iii)are used for this purpose. A typical situation is shown in Fig. 2(a) for one quarter of the cross-section of a quad-ridged waveguide of square outer dimensions. The computer is instructed merely by dimensioning the bounding geometryto number all points and to generate and store all the finite elements. Subsequently the computer examines the nature of each point according to its integer label and sorts out those points and elements to be included in the actual problem description as follows: all points on metallic walls or within the structure are labelled '9', indicating that the scalar potentiallongitudinal H for dominant modesis unknown. The computer is instructed to include such points within the problem matrix. Points outside the wanted geometry are labelled '0' and matrix contributions from them are excluded by the computer. Those points on axes of symmetry labelled ' 1 ' are themselves excluded but the finite-element contributions associated with such a point are included since these elements of course form part of the structure. The labelling

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corresponding to the structure shown in Fig. 2(a) is shown for the purposes of illustration in Fig. 2(b). This method of defining points and elements is extremely powerful for two reasons: (i) since all problems are initially described by bounding grids and particular geometries by one integer per point, the computer is left to carry out the tedious generation of elements and renumbering of points, (ii) the process just described can be entirely carried out without any need to define the actual positions of points. This latter point is extremely important in that it gives the preprocessing a generality, flexibility and simplicity not normally found with conventional methods. There are of course many ways of describing the positions of all the points in the mesh, most simply by inputting each set of points one by one. Obviously with large matrices this method is far too unwieldy and we have adopted the approach of assuming an irregular grid with independently prescribed scaling factors along the two orthogonal axes. One is thereby restricted to rectangular elements in any region but one retains the flexibility of being able to use reduced-size grids in areas of special interest. Following the definition of dielectric constant within each rec tangular element, the computer is able to build up the matrices A and B as defined in eq. (3). Standard programmes exist for the solution of matrix eigenvalue problems of this typesymmetric, real and bandedand are available in the literature [9]. 4. RESULTS AND POST-PROCESSING Measurements on a quad-ridged waveguide containing a dielectric of various thicknesses have been carried out to establish the cut-off frequencies of both vertical and horizontal polarisations of the dominant mode. Essentially these measurements

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P. Daly: Cut-off frequencies of quad-ridged

waveguides

consist of the transmission of a fixed-level, variable-frequency (usually swept across the band) microwave source through a matched transition to the DUT (device under test) which is also matched to a microwave signal detector placed at the output. A power meter at the output measures the output level as a function of frequency. With the input frequency swept, a plot of output level on an XY-recorder whose X-input is the signal level and Y-input the saw-tooth voltage driving the sweep frequency generator, results in a transmission spectrum as shown in Fig. 3. The cut-off frequency for any waveguide mode defines the frequency boundary above which free propagation occurs and below which no propagation is possible. Since the conductors and dielectric are not perfectly lossless, the transition between the two regimes is gradual rather than abrupt as may be observed from the plots. It is common practice to define the cut-off point at the frequency at which the output level has fallen 15 dB below the maximum transmit level and we follow this custom. Very little error is incurred by taking different levels20 or 25 dB especially as our interest rests with the differential change in cut-off frequency between the two linear modes. The experimental curves in Fig. 3 refer to transmission characteristics of quadridged square waveguide of width 19.55 mm with centrally-located dielectric slabs of width 1, 2, 3 and 4 mm. The dielectric permittivity is 2.53 (the material is PTFE) and the four ridges are all 4.6 mm wide and 5.4 mm high. This particular structure is

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49

designed to have a cutoff frequency (with no vane) around 5 GHz and an operating bandwidth from 6 to 18 GHz. Comparison between the measured results for dominant mode cut-off frequency and the numbers obtained using the finite-element method, is made in Table 1 using the finite-element mesh subdivision displayed in Fig. 2. Vertical polarisation is understood to refer to the mode having its maximum electric field directed along the dielectric slab. This mesh uses a basic grid of 9 * 9 intervals to give 324 triangles and 181 grid points at 136 of which the field function is unknown and therefore labelled '9' for inclusion in the final matrix. In any case, the input data to the computer consists solely of: (i) two integers NX and NY defining the outer boundary (ii) scaling factors SX[1 - NX] and SY[1 - NY] along the axes (iii) an integer matrix array coding the type of point in the cross-sectiontotal number of points is equal to NX * NY+ (NX- 1) * (NY- 1) (iv) dielectric constants for each group of four elementsnumber of groups is equal to (NX-1)* (NY-1) (v) three solution parameters giving tolerance of the calculation for eigenvalues and the lower and upper bounds of the wanted eigenvalues The frequencies given in the Table refer to the particular mode of propagation as follows: f1 is the cut-off frequency of the dominant (H10) mode f2 is the cut-off frequency of the H12 mode f3 is the cut-off frequency of theH1230mode where the H subscript nomenclature is standard and refers to the number of spatial half-waves along the horizontal and vertical axes in the unmodified waveguide. Results for the same problem geometry but this time using a finer finite-element mesh are shown in Table 2. In fact the subdivision of the mesh is exactly half of the

Table 1 Cut-off frequencies in quad-ridged waveguide containing a centrallylocated dielectric slab with permittivity of 2.53coarse mesh /(mm) V/H f 1 (GHz) meas 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 theory 5.34 5.02 4.73 4.48 4.20 5.30 5.21 5.10 4.98 20.18 19.25 18.35 17.89 17.18 20.06 19.66 19.11 18.51 20.65 20.29 20.27 20.26 20.25 20.46 20.34 20.30 20.28 f 2 (GHz) f 3 (GHz)

/
V V V V H H H H

5.25 4.92 4.65 4.44 4.26 5.20 5.13 5.02 4.88

Matrix order = 136; matrix bandwidth = 19; Finite-element mesh 9*9; CPU time/eigenvalue 18 secs.

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P.

Daly: Cut-off frequencies of quad-ridged waveguides Table 2 Cut-off frequencies in quad-ridged waveguide containing a centrallylocated dielectric slab of permittivity of 2.53fine mesh /(mm) V/H /(GHz) meas 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 theory 5.28 4.96 4.69 4.45 4.25 5.23 5.15 5.05 4.93 20.25 19.15 18.28 17.81 17.57 20.05 19.61 18.97 18.19 20.63 20.35 20.33 20.33 20.32 20.46 20.38 20.36 20.34 f2(GHz) f3(GHz)

/
V V V V H H H H

5.25 4.92 4.65 4.44 4.26 5.20 5.13 5.02 4.88

Matrix order = 528; matrix bandwidth = 37; Finite-element mesh 18 * 18; CPU time/eigenvalue 220 secs;

previous figure resulting in approximately four times the matrix order previously used. Assuming a quadratic rate of convergence with successive mesh subdivision one can base a more refined estimate of the eigenvalues by combining the results presented in Tables 1 and 2. However, it is clear from the results that predictions of cut-off frequency of the dominant mode (f1) are already within 1-2% of the measured results using a fairly coarse mesh (Table 1) and closer still using the finer mesh (Table 2). No experimental results are shown for the cut-off frequencies of the higher-order modes in quad-ridged waveguide with the same symmetries as the dominant mode. The main reason for this lies in the difficulty of carrying out the measurement which involves excitation of the wanted mode to the exclusion of all other modes. Avoidance of the dominant mode without altering the physical shape of the waveguide is difficult and the separation of the two higher-order modes (cut-off frequencies f2 and f3) so close in frequency also presents serious problems. For this reason alone, the designer is anxious to be able to produce reliable computer predictions for the cut-off frequencies of these unwanted higher-order modes. The figures in Tables 1 and 2 can be relied on to predict to within 1% (at most) the upper frequency limit up to which single mode operation of the quad-ridged waveguide can be guaranteed. As a by-product of the computer solution of the eigenvalue problem, one obtains the eigenvectors for each mode of propagation. In this case, the eigenvectors are point values of the local longitudinal magnetic field and may be printed out or used to compute losses in the waveguide. However the use of sophisticated contourplotting computer routines allows one to display this information visually in a fashion which is extremely useful to a design engineer. Lines of constant field contours are plotted in Figs. 4(a)-(d) for one of the cases for which tabular data has already been provided. The fine-mesh outputs with matrix order 528 have been plotted over the cross-section (with waveguide ridges masked out) and represent the

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electric field pattern for all four modes of propagation. It is possible of course to produce solutions for any number of modes up to a maximum equal to matrix order but within rapidly decreasing accuracy as mode number increases. 5. CONCLUSIONS Cut-off frequencies for dielectric-loaded quad-ridged waveguides have been com puted by the finite-element method for the first three propagation modes with the same symmetry as the dominant mode. By means of pre- and post-processing techniques it has been possible to require the computer to carry out the most tedious, time-consuming and error-prone processes necessary to translate the prob lem description into input data and output data into meaningful displays of field behaviour. At the same time, a great deal of flexibility inherent in the finiteelement method has been retained since the problem geometry is always defined as a subset of a standard outline simply by a coded labelling of the points one wishes to be included in the final matrix. It should be obvious that problems with special symmetries or constants can be handled in an even more efficient manner than has been described here. For example, it often occurs in practice that there are at most two separate dielectric regions within the structure and this knowledge can clearly be used to reduce the specifications of data to two or three constants rather than one for each group of finite elements. On the other hand, some readers may find it inconvenient or inappropriate to use grids of points either regular or irregular. Fortunately the preprocessing method described in this paper does not rely on the use of any grid, merely accepting the convenience of such a grid when relevant. It is always possible to prescribe independently the position of every single point in the cross-section in those cases where it is regarded as being important to do so.

REFERENCES
[1] H.G. Unger, Die Berechnung von Steghohlleitern, Arch. Elek. Uebertragung 9 (1955) 157-161. [2] J.H. Collins and P. Daly, Orthogonal mode theory of single ridged waveguide, J. Elec and Control 17(2) (1964) 121-129. [3] J.P. Montgomery, On the complete eigenvalue solution of ridged waveguide, IEEE Trans MTT-19 (1971) 547-555. [4] G. Magerl, Ridged waveguides with inhomogeneous dielectric-slab loading, IEEE Trans MTT-26 (1978) 413-416. [5] P. Silvester, High-order polynomial triangular finite elements for potential problems, Int. J. Eng. Sci. 17 (1969) 842-861. [6] P. Daly, Hybrid mode analysis of microstrip by the finite-element method, IEEE Trans MTT-19 (1971) 19-25. [7] M. Aubourg, J.P. Villotte, F. Godon and Y. Garault, Finite-element analysis of lossy waveguides application to microstrip lines on semiconductor substrate, IEEE Trans MTT-31 (1983) 326-330. [8] P. Daly, Upper and lower bounds to the characteristic impedance of transmission lines using the finite-element method, Int. J. Comp. and Math, in Electrical and Electronic Eng (COMPEL) 3(2) (1984) 65-78. [9] G. Peters and J.H. Wilkinson, Eigenvalues of Ax = Bx with band symmetric A and B, Computer J. 12(4) (1969) 398-404.