A TM guide for surface wave power routing and application to planar quasi-optical dividing/combining arrays

• Published in: 2012 IEEE/MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest pp. 1 - 3
• Main Authors: Podilchak, S.K., Freundorfer, A.P., Antar, Y.M.M.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01.06.2012
• Subjects: Couplers; Frequency measurement; Integrated circuit modeling; Planar Circuits; Power Routing; Quasi-Optical Combining; Routing; Slabs; Surface impedance; Surface waves; Surface-Wave Launchers
• DOI: 10.1109/MWSYM.2012.6259755
• ISBN: 1467310859; 9781467310857
• ISSN: 0149-645X

Surface waves (SWs) on planar substrates are generally an adverse effect that can degrade the performance of millimetre-wave circuits and antennas. However, with appropriate boundary conditions, such SWs can be harnessed as an efficient means of power transport achieving bound propagation along a grounded dielectric slab. Specifically this work studies TM fields generated from a planar SW source and launched into a novel guide for directive power routing. Analysis of the excited modes is completed and power channelling concepts are extended to a compact quasi-optical power combiner circuit for microwave and millimetre-wave frequencies of operation. Measurements and simulations are in agreement and impedance bandwidths of 20% are observed. Presented guidance and power directing techniques are also applicable to other printed circuit designs, multi-layer configurations, directional couplers, waveguide bends and transitions, repeater systems, new antenna feeds, and other power dividing/combining and routing circuits.