MICROWAVE AND RF COMMUNICATION

SUBJECT CODE : EC – 305N

LAB FILE

SUBMITTED BY

SHIVANG TAMTA

23/EC/191

SUBMITTED TO

DR. DEEPIKA SIPAL

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

DELHI TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

(FORMERLY DELHI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING)

BAWANA ROAD, DELHI ROAD - 110042

 INDEX

[Link]. NAME OF EXPERIMENT DATE OF DATE OF

EXPERIMENT SUBMISSION

EXPERIMENT – 1
AIM

To study about various microwave components and their working.

THEORY

Microwave engineering deals with electromagnetic waves in the frequency range of 1 GHz to
300 GHz. These high-frequency signals require specialized components to guide, control, and
manipulate them effectively. Microwave components are widely used in radar systems,
satellite communication, microwave ovens, and other high-frequency applications. Studying
these components helps in understanding the behaviour of microwave signals and their
interaction with devices.

Waveguides: Waveguides are hollow metallic tubes designed to carry microwave signals
from one point to another. Unlike normal electrical wires, waveguides confine the
electromagnetic waves within a metallic boundary, which helps minimize power loss and
maintain signal strength. The waves in a waveguide can propagate in different modes, mainly
Transverse Electric (TE) and Transverse Magnetic (TM) modes. Waveguides are extensively
used in radar systems, satellite communications, and microwave ovens. By studying
waveguides, one can understand how high-frequency signals are guided efficiently over a
distance.

Klystron: A Klystron is a type of vacuum tube used to amplify microwave signals. It works on
the principle of velocity modulation of electrons. Electrons emitted from a cathode are
accelerated and modulated by a high-frequency input signal, producing amplified output at
the desired frequency. Klystrons are important in radar transmitters, satellite uplinks, and
high-power microwave systems. Understanding klystrons provides insights into how
microwave signals can be amplified to travel long distances without significant loss.

Magic Tee: The Magic Tee is a four-port waveguide junction that combines the features of a
T-junction and a hybrid junction. It allows signals entering from one port to be split into two
ports or to combine signals from two ports into one output. Magic Tees are widely used in
power splitting, measurement setups, and phased array antennas. Studying Magic Tees
helps understand how signals can be efficiently combined or separated without loss.

Circulator: A circulator is a non-reciprocal three-port device that routes microwave signals in

a circular manner, from one port to the next. This ensures that signals entering a port leave
only from the designated port. Circulators are mainly used to isolate components, especially
in radar systems where the transmitter and receiver share the same antenna. By studying
circulators, one learns how signal flow can be controlled to prevent interference between
components.

Isolator: Isolators are two-port devices that allow microwave signals to pass in one direction
while blocking them in the opposite direction. They are used to protect sensitive
components like amplifiers from reflected power that could cause damage or distortion.
Understanding isolators is essential for designing stable and reliable microwave systems.

Directional Coupler: Directional couplers are four-port devices used to sample a portion of
microwave power from a transmission line without disturbing the main signal. They are used
for monitoring, measurement, and signal sampling in communication systems. Studying
directional couplers helps in understanding signal division and monitoring techniques in
microwave circuits.

Attenuator: An attenuator is a device used to reduce the amplitude of microwave signals

without significantly altering their waveform. It is commonly used in testing, measurement,
and signal conditioning applications. Attenuators help in preventing overload in sensitive
components and maintaining signal levels within desired limits. Understanding attenuators is
important for designing controlled and safe microwave systems.

Waveguide Bend

A waveguide bend is used to change the direction of microwave propagation in a system.

Bends can be designed in the E-plane (electric field) or H-plane (magnetic field) depending
on the wave propagation requirements. They help in compact layouts and routing
waveguides around obstacles.

Waveguide Twist

Waveguide twists are used to rotate the orientation of the waveguide to match polarization
requirements or to align with other components. Twists ensure minimal signal loss and
maintain correct wave propagation characteristics.

Waveguide Joint

Joints are used to connect two or more waveguide sections mechanically. They maintain
impedance continuity and prevent microwave leakage. Proper alignment is crucial to
minimize reflection and loss in the system.
Antenna (Horn Antenna)

Horn antennas are widely used in microwave experiments to radiate or receive signals. They
provide a well-defined radiation pattern and are used in measurements, radar, and antenna
testing.

VSWR Meter

A VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio) meter measures the ratio of the maximum to
minimum voltage in a standing wave pattern. It helps determine the matching of the load to
the transmission line and ensures minimal reflected power. VSWR meters are essential in
tuning antennas and waveguide systems.

OBSERVATIONS & INFERENCE

Various microwave components have been identified and their applications have been
studied and understood.

RESULT & DISCUSSION

All the above microwave components have been studied successfully. Their working
principles, applications, and significance in microwave systems are now understood.
 EXPERIMENT – 2

AIM

To construct and simulate WR-90 Rectangular waveguide using CST software

SOFTWARE USED

CST Studio Suite 2025 learning edition

THEORY

WR-90 Waveguide

The WR-90 is a standard rectangular waveguide widely used in the X-band frequency range.
Its designation comes from its broad wall dimension of 0.90 inches (≈ 22.86 mm).

 Internal dimensions: 22.86 mm × 10.16 mm

 Operating frequency range: 8.2 GHz – 12.4 GHz

 Dominant mode: TE₁₀

 Cutoff frequency: ≈ 6.56 GHz

The dominant mode in a rectangular waveguide is the TE₁₀ mode, meaning that the electric
field has one half-wave variation along the broad dimension and no variation along the
narrow dimension.

General Cutoff Frequency (Rectangular Waveguide)

For Dominant TE₁₀ Mode

where:

 c = speed of light in vacuum

 m, n = mode indices (integers)

 a = width of waveguide

 b = height of waveguide
Applications:

This waveguide is extensively used in radar, satellite communication, and microwave test
systems because of its low loss and ability to handle high power at microwave frequencies.

Simulation in CST

CST (Computer Simulation Technology) software is an electromagnetic field simulation tool

used to model and analyse microwave and RF components. By constructing a WR-90
waveguide in CST, one can:

 Visualize the electric and magnetic field distribution of different modes.

 Verify the propagation of the dominant TE₁₀ mode.

 Compute important parameters such as S-parameters, cutoff frequency, bandwidth,

and field patterns.

The simulation provides insight into how a practical waveguide operates, allowing us to
confirm theoretical concepts with computational results.
OBSERVATIONS

Values of S – parameters of the waveguide

E-field, H field, Surface current distribution at f=5,5,11 frequencies from port 1 respectively
 The cutoff frequency of this mode indicated in the graph close to 6.5 which is same as the
theoretical frequency which further more verifies that the waveguide operated in the TE10
mode.

It’s the port 1 Electric field analysis which gives also gives the inference that the waveguide is
operating in TE mode and all other parameters are mentioned too.
RESULT & DISCUSSIONS

 The WR-90 rectangular waveguide was successfully constructed and simulated in CST
software.

 The simulation showed that the dominant TE₁₀ mode propagated within the
expected frequency range.

 The cutoff frequency obtained from the simulation matched closely with the
theoretical cutoff frequency (≈ 6.56 GHz).

 The operating frequency range of the WR-90 waveguide was verified to be between
8.2 GHz and 12.4 GHz, which agrees with standard data.

 The S-parameter results indicated efficient transmission in the passband region, with
minimal reflection losses.

CONCLUSION

From the experiment, it is concluded that:

 The WR-90 rectangular waveguide efficiently supports the TE₁₀ mode in its operating
frequency range.

 The simulated results of cutoff frequency, field patterns, and S-parameters are in
good agreement with the theoretical analysis.

 CST software provides a powerful platform to visualize and analyze electromagnetic

behavior of waveguides, which helps in understanding practical microwave
components.

 This experiment reinforced the theoretical concepts of wave propagation, cutoff

frequency, and dominant mode operation in rectangular waveguides.