Vidyavardhini’s College of Engineering & Technology
Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering
Experiment Determine the frequency of operation & guided wavelength for the given
No: 11 rectangular waveguide.
Aim: To determine the frequency and guided wavelength in a rectangular waveguide
working in dominant mode using frequency meter and slotted waveguide.
Components Klystron tube, Klystron power supply, Klystron Mount, Circulator, Variable
Required: Attenuator, Frequency meter, Slotted section, Matched load, CRO, Cables, and
accessories.
Theory: In general, a waveguide consists of a hollow metallic tube of a rectangular or
circular shape used to guide an electromagnetic wave. Waveguides are used
principally at frequencies in the microwave range. At frequency range X band
from 8 to 12 GHz, for example, the U.S. standard rectangular waveguide WR-
90 has an inner width of 2.286 cm (0.9 in.) and an inner height of 1.016 cm (0.4
in.); but its outside dimensions are 2.54 cm (1 in.) wide and 1.27 cm (0.5 in.)
high.
It is possible to propagate several modes of electromagnetic waves
within a waveguide. These modes correspond to solutions of Maxwell's
equations for particular waveguides. A given waveguide has a definite cutoff
frequency for each allowed mode. If the frequency of the impressed signal is
above the cutoff frequency for a given mode, the electromagnetic energy can be
transmitted through the guide for that particular mode without attenuation.
Otherwise, the electromagnetic energy with a frequency below the cutoff
frequency for that particular mode will be attenuated to a negligible value in a
relatively short distance.
The dominant mode in a particular guide is the mode having the lowest
cutoff frequency. For a rectangular waveguide, the dominant mode is TE 10
mode. In order to excite a TE10 mode in one direction of the guide, the exciting
probe is placed at the center of the waveguide.
The operating wavelength is a function of the guided wavelength and
the lower cutoff wavelength. Guided wavelength is always longer than the
wavelength would be in free space.
1 / λo2 = (1 / λg2) + (1 / λc2 ) ---------- (1)
2
where λ = 2 2
√(𝑚) +(𝑛)
𝑎 𝑏
Vidyavardhini’s College of Engineering & Technology
Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering
λo = Free space wavelength m, n = Mode number
λ g = Guided wavelength
λ c = Cut off wavelength
a = Broad dimension of waveguide
b = Narrow dimension of waveguide
Thus, for dominant TE10 mode λ c = 2a.
Procedure: CAUTION: The RF power levels in the experiments are not harmful, but a
human eye may be damaged by low levels of radiation. Do not look into the
waveguide at any time when the equipments are on.
1. Keep the control knobs of Klystron Power Supply as below:
Meter Switch - ‘OFF’
Mod Switch - AM
Beam voltage knob - Fully anti-clockwise (i.e minimum)
Reflector voltage - Fully clockwise (i.e maximum)
Switch on the microwave source, cooling fan, and CRO.
2. Now slowly reduce the reflector voltage and increase the beam voltage until
you get a perfect square wave. Thus, the Klystron source is set up.
3. Tune the frequency meter knob to get the ‘dip’ on the CRO scale and note
down the resonating length directly. From the chart find the corresponding
operating frequency. After taking the reading de-tune the frequency meter.
4. Attach the CRO probe to the slotted waveguide output.
Vidyavardhini’s College of Engineering & Technology
Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering
5. Move the probe along with the slotted line, the output in CRO will vary. Move
the probe to a minimum deflection position. Note and record the probe position
(d1). (You can take the reading of maximum deflection position too.)
6. Move the probe to the next minimum position and record the probe position
(d2) again.
8. Calculate the guided wavelength as twice the distance between successive
minimum (or maximum) positions obtained as above.
λg = 2 (d2 – d1)
where (d2 – d1) is the difference between two successive minimum or
maximum.
7. Measure the waveguides inner broad dimension ‘a’ and find λc. Thus,
calculate the frequency of operation.
8. Verify with frequency obtained by frequency meter.
Observations:
(1) Calculate frequency using frequency meter:
Frequency meter reading = 20.38cm
Frequency from chart (fo) = 8.34GHz
(2) Calculate frequency using a slotted waveguide:
d1 (first min/max) =11.5cm
d2 (second min/max) = 14.42cm
λg = 2 (d2 – d1) = 5.72cm
a (broad dimension of waveguide) = 2.3cm
λc = 2a = 4.6cm
λo = 3.5846 (from 1)
fo = C/λo = 8.3691GHz
Conclusion:
Post 1. What type of frequency meter used in microwave test bench?
Experiment 2. Explain the principle of frequency meter?
Quiz
