MICROWAVE OPTICS

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 EXPERIMENT
MICROWAVE OPTICS

Visible light has wavelengths of a few hundred nanometers, so most optical phenomena occur on very small
scales. Using a three centimeter microwave wavelength transforms the scale of the experiment. Microns
become centimeters and variables that are obscured by the small scale of traditional optics experiments are
easily seen and manipulated.

Equipments/Instruments

Microwave transmitter, microwave receiver, goniometer, rotating table, metal and plastic reflectors, polarizer

Microwave transmitter:
The Gunn diode transmitter provides 15 mW of coherent, linearly polarized microwave output at a wavelength
of 2.85 cm. The unit consists of a Gunn diode in a 10.525 GHz resonant cavity, a microwave horn to direct the
output and an 18 cm stand to reduce table reflections. The Transmitter may be powered directly from a standard
115 or 220/240 VAC, 50/60 Hz outlet by using the provided power supply. An LED power-indicator light and a
rotational scale that allows easy measurement of the angle of polarization.

The Gunn diode acts as a non-linear resistor that oscillates in the microwave [Link] output is linearly
polarized along the axis of the diode and the attached horn radiates a strong beam of microwave radiation
centered along the axis of the horn.

Figure 1. Microwave Transmitter with Power Supply

Specifications of Power Supply:

(a) 9 Volt DC, 500 mA;

(b) Miniature Phone Jack Connector (Tip is positive)

To Operate Microwave Transmitter:

Plug the power supply into the jack on the Transmitter’s bottom panel and plug the power supply into a standard
115 or 220/240 V AC, 50/60 Hz outlet.

LED will glow indicating unit is ON.

CAUTION: The output power is well within standard safety levels. Nevertheless, one should never look directly
into the microwave horn at close range when the transmitter is on. Under some circumstances, microwaves can
interfere with electronic medical devices. If you use a pacemaker, or other electronic medical devices, check
with your doctor to be certain that low power microwaves at a frequency of 10.5 GHz will not interfere with its
operation.

Microwave Receiver: The microwave receiver provides a meter reading that is proportional to the intensity of
the incident signal. A microwave horn, identical to that of the transmitter, collects the microwave signal and
channels it to a Schottky diode in a 10.525 GHz resonant cavity. The microwave radiation from the transmitter
is linearly polarized along the axis of the diode; that is, as the radiation propagates through space, its electric
vector remains aligned with the axis of the diode. The diode responds only to the component of a microwave
signal that is polarized along the diode axis, generating a DC voltage that varies with the magnitude of the
microwave signal. The female audio connector on the side of the Receiver is for an optional Microwave Detector
Probe ( PASCO Model WA-9319). The probe works the same as the Receiver except it has no horn or resonant
cavity. The Probe is particularly convenient for examining wave patterns in which the horn could get in the way,
such as the standing wave pattern.

Figure 2. Microwave Receiver

Special features of the Receiver:

(a) Four amplification ranges from 1 to 30

(b)Variable sensitivity knob for fine tuning of the amplification in each range

(c) The receiver is battery powered

(d) LED battery indicator to indicate battery is working

NOTE: The detector diodes in the Receiver (and the Probe) are non-linear devices. This non-linearity
will provide no problem in most experiments. It is important however, to realize that the meter reading
is not directly proportional to either the electric field (E) or the intensity (I) of the incident
[Link], it generally reflects some intermediate value.
To Operate Microwave Receiver:
(a)Turn the INTENSITY selection switch from OFF to 30X, the lowest amplification level. The
battery indicator LED should light, indicating that the battery is okay.
(b) Point the microwave horn toward the incident microwave signal. Unless polarization effects are
under investigation, adjust the polarization angles of the Transmitter and Receiver to the same
orientation (e.g., both horns vertically, or both horns horizontally).
© Adjust the VARIABLE SENSITIVITY knob to attain a meter reading near midscale. If no
deflection of the meter occurs, increase the amplification by turning the INTENSITY election switch
clockwise.

Note : Remember, always multiply your meter reading by the appropriate INTENSITY selection
(30X, 10X, 3X, or 1X) if you want to make a quantitative comparison of measurements taken at
different INTENSITY settings.

Initial Steps
To attach the microwave Transmitter and Receiver to their respective stands prior to performing
experiments, proceed as follows:
(a) Remove the black hand screw from the back panel of both the Transmitter and the Receiver.
(b) Attach both units to the stands as shown below. Observe the location of the washers.
(c) To adjust the polarization angle of the Transmitter or Receiver, loosen the hand screw, rotate the
unit, and tighten the hand screw at the desired [Link] the rotational scale on the back of
each unit for measuring the angle of polarization.

Note: Since the Transmitter and Receiver face each other in most experiments it is important to match
their polarization angle. If you rotate one unit to an angle of 10-degrees, you must rotate the other to -
10-degrees (350-degrees) to achieve the proper polar alignment.

Figure 3. Attaching Transmitter and Receiver Stands

 EXPERIMENT 1: Introduction to the System

Equipments Needed:

1. Goniometer
2. Reflector
3. Transmitter
4. Receiver

Transmitter(3) Receiver (4)

3)
Procedure:

1. Arrange the Transmitter and Receiver on the Goniometer as shown in Figure 1.1 with the
Transmitter attached to the fixed arm. Adjust both Transmitter and Receiver to the same
polarity—the horns should have the same orientation, as shown.
 2. Plug in the Transmitter and turn the INTENSITY selection switch on the Receiver from OFF to 10X.(The
LEDs should light up on both units.)
3. Adjust the Transmitter and Receiver so the distance between the source diode in the
Transmitter and the detector diode in the Receiver (the distance labelled R in Figure 1.1) is 40
cm (see Figure 1.2 for location of points of transmission and reception).The diodes are at the
locations marked "T" and "R" on the bases. Adjust the INTENSITY and VARIABLE
SENSITIVITY dials on the Receiver so that the meter reads 1.0 (full scale).

4. Set the distance R to each of the values shown in Table 1.1. For each value of R, record the meter
reading. (Do not adjust the Receiver controls between measurements.) Set R to some value between 70
and 90 cm. While watching the meter, slowly decrease the distance between the Transmitter and
Receiver.

Table 1.1
 5. Set R to between 50 and 90 cm. Move a Reflector, its plane parallel to the axis of the
microwave beam, toward and away from the beam axis, as shown in Figure 1.3. Observe the
meter readings.

6. Loosen the hand screw on the back of the Receiver and rotate the Receiver as shown in Figure 1.4.
This varies the polarity of maximum detection. (Look into the receiver horn and notice the alignment of
the detector diode.) Observe the meter readings through a full 360 degree rotation of the horn. A small
mirror may be helpful to view the meter reading as the receiver is turned. At what polarity does the
Receiver detect no signal? Try rotating the Transmitter horn as well. When finished, reset the
Transmitter and Receiver so their polarities match (e.g., both horns are horizontal or both horns are
vertical).
8. Position the Transmitter so the output surface of the horn is centered directly over the center of the
Degree Plate of the Goniometer arm (see Figure 1.5). With the Receiver directly facing the Transmitter
and as far back on the Goniometer arm as possible, adjust the Receiver controls for a meter reading of
1.0. Then rotate the rotatable arm of the Goniometer as shown in the figure. Set the angle of rotation
(measured relative to the 180-degree point on the degree scale) to each of the values and record the
meter reading at each setting.
Table 1.2

Questions

1. The electric field of an electromagnetic wave is inversely proportional to the distance from the wave
source (i.e., E = 1/R). Use your data from step 4 of the experiment to determine if the meter reading of
the Receiver is directly proportional to the electric field of the wave with graphical plot.

2. The intensity of an electromagnetic wave is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from
the wave source (i.e., I = 1/R2). Use your data from step 4 of the experiment to determine if the meter
reading of the Receiver is directly proportional to the intensity of the wave with graphical plot.
 Experiment 2: Reflection

EQUIPMENT NEEDED:
1. Transmitter
2. Goniometer
3. Receiver
4. Metal Reflector
5. Rotating Component Holder

Transmitter(3) Receiver (4)

Rotating component holder
(5)

Procedure:
1. Arrange the equipment as shown in figure 2.1with the Transmitter attached to the
fixed arm of the Goniometer. Be sure to adjust the Transmitter and Receiver to the
same polarity; the horns should have the same orientation as shown.
2. Plug in the Transmitter and turn the Receiver INTENSITY selection switch to 30X.
3. The angle between the incident wave from the Transmitter and a line normal to the
plane of the Reflector is called the Angle of Incidence (see Figure 2.2). Adjust the
Rotating Component Holder so that the Angle of Incidence equals 45-degrees.

3. Without moving the Transmitter or the Reflector, rotate the movable arm of the
Goniometer until the meter reading is a maximum. The angle between the axis of
the Receiver horn and a line normal to the plane of the Reflector is called the Angle
of Reflection.

4. Measure and record the angle of reflection for each of the angles of incidence
shown in Table 2.1.
Questions
1. What relationship holds between the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection?
Does this relationship hold for all angles of incidence?

2. In measuring the angle of reflection, you measured the angle at which a maximum
meter reading wasfound. Can you explain why some of the wave reflected into different
angles? How does this affect your answer to question 1?
 Experiment 3: Polarization
EQUIPMENT NEEDED:

1. Goniometer
2. Transmitter
3. Receiver
4. Component Holder
5. Polarizer

Goniometer Transmitter Component holder Receiver Polarizer

Introduction

The microwave radiation from the Transmitter is linearly polarized along the Transmitter diode axis (i.e.,
as the radiation propagates through space, its electric field remains aligned with the axis of the diode).
If the Transmitter diode were aligned vertically, the electric field of the transmitted wave would be
vertically polarized, as shown in Figure 3.1.

Figure.3.1 Vertical Polarization

If the detector diode were at an angle θ to the Transmitter diode, as shown in Figure 3.2, it would only
detect the component of the incident electric field that was aligned along its axis. In this experiment you
will investigate the phenomenon of polarization and discover how a polarizer can be used to alter the
polarization of microwave radiation.
 Figure 3.2 Detecting Polarized Radiation
Procedure
1. Arrange the equipment as shown in Figure 3.3 and adjust the Receiver controls for nearly full-scale
meter deflection.
2. Loosen the hand screw on the back of the Receiver and rotate the Receiver in increments of ten
degrees.
3. At each rotational position, record the meter reading in Table 3.1.

Figure 3.3 Equipment Setup

Table 3.1
4 Set up the equipment as shown in Figure 3.4. Reset the Receivers angle to 0-degrees (the horns should
be oriented as shown with the longer side horizontal).

Figure 3.4 Equipment Setup

6. Record the meter reading when the Polarizer is aligned at 0, 22.5, 45, 67.5 and 90-degrees with
respect to the horizontal.
7. Remove the Polarizer slits. Rotate the Receiver so the axis of its horn is at right angles to that of
the Transmitter.
8. Record the meter reading Table 3.2 and 3.3. Then replace the Polarizer slits and record the meter
readings with the Polarizer slits horizontal, vertical, and at 45 degrees.

Table 3.2 Table 3.3