Properties of Modes in a Circular Waveguide

Circular waveguide formula variables - RF CafeCircular waveguides offer implementation advantages over rectangular waveguide in that installation is much simpler when forming runs for turns and offsets - particularly when large radii are involved - and the wind loading is less on a round cross-section, meaning towers do not need to be as robust. Manufacturing is generally simpler, too, since only one dimension - the radius - needs to be maintained. Applications where differential rotation is required, like a rotary joint for a radar antenna, absolutely require a circular cross-section, so even if rectangular waveguide is used for the primary routing, a transition to circular - and then possibly back to rectangular - is needed.

Tabel of Time-Harmonic Mode Properties in a Circular Waveguide, by Brian Sequeira - RF CafeCalculations for circular waveguide requires the application of Bessel functions, so working equations with a cheap calculator is not going to happen. However, even spreadsheets have Bessel function (Jn) capability nowadays, so determining cutoff frequencies, field strengths, and any of the other standard values associated with circular waveguide can be done relatively easily. The formulas below represent those quantities most commonly needed for circular waveguides. Please see the figure at the upper left for a, Φ, x, y, and r variable references.

Note: I received the following note from Brian Sequeira, of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. "I reviewed tables on rectangular and circular waveguides, and based on my experience of what confuses first-time readers and what does not, I made adjustments to notation & symbols, corrected a couple of sign errors, and put expressions in a form that make their units more apparent." The table for circular waveguide can be viewed full-size by clicking on the thumbnail to the right. Brian also provided a table for rectangular waveguide.

Quantity TE Modes TM Modes
Hz RF Cafe: Circular waveguide equations 0
Ez 0 RF Cafe: Circular waveguide equations
Hr RF Cafe: Circular waveguide equations RF Cafe: Circular waveguide equations
Hϕ RF Cafe: Circular waveguide equations RF Cafe: Circular waveguide equations
Er RF Cafe: Circular waveguide equations RF Cafe: Circular waveguide equations
Eϕ RF Cafe: Circular waveguide equations RF Cafe: Circular waveguide equations
βnm RF Cafe: Circular waveguide equations RF Cafe: Circular waveguide equations
Zh,nm RF Cafe: Circular waveguide equations  
Ze,nm   RF Cafe: Circular waveguide equations
kc,nm RF Cafe: Circular waveguide equations RF Cafe: Circular waveguide equations
λc,nm RF Cafe: Circular waveguide equations RF Cafe: Circular waveguide equations
Power†† RF Cafe: Circular waveguide equations RF Cafe: Circular waveguide equations
α RF Cafe: Circular waveguide equations RF Cafe: Circular waveguide equations
RF Cafe: Circular waveguide equations
The expression for α is not valid for degenerate modes.
Equations derived from "Foundations for Microwave Engineering, R.E. Collin, McGraw-Hill
†† Thanks to Patrick L. for finding error where "4" in denominator should be "2."

Values of pnm for TM Modes

n pn1 pn2 pn3
0 2.405 5.520 8.654
1 3.832 7.016 10.174
2 5.135 8.417 11.620

Values of p'nm for TE Modes

n p'n1 p'n2 p'n3
0 3.832 7.016 10.174
1 1.841 5.331 8.536
2 3.054 6.706 9.970

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