BY AHMED ADNAN WAHHAB

Microwave Resonators
Chapter six
Microwave Engineering Fourth Edition

2019-2020
 Microwave resonators are used in a variety of applications, including filters, oscillators,
frequency meters, and tuned amplifiers. Because the operation of microwave resonators
is very similar to that of lumped-element resonators of circuit theory, we will begin by
reviewing the basic characteristics of series and parallel RLC resonant circuits. We will
then discuss various implementations of resonators at microwave frequencies using
distributed elements such as transmission lines, rectangular and circular waveguides, and
dielectric cavities. We will also discuss the excitation of resonators using apertures and
current sheets.

1-SERIES AND PARALLEL RESONANT CIRCUITS

At frequencies near resonance, a microwave resonator can usually be modeled by either

a series or parallel RLC lumped-element equivalent circuit, and so we will now review
some of the basic properties of these circuits.

a-Series Resonant Circuit

w1 w2

Wm = We implies that the resonant frequency, ω0, can be defined as

 B.W=w2-w1=R/L
quality factor(Q) is a measure of the loss of a resonant circuit—lower loss implies a
higher Q. Resonator losses may be due to conductor loss, dielectric loss, or radiation loss,
and are represented by the resistance, R, of the equivalent circuit. An external connecting
network may introduce additional loss. Each of these loss mechanisms will have the effect
of lowering the Q. The Q of the resonator itself, disregarding external loading effects, is
called the unloaded Q, denoted as Q0.

Wm = We at resonance

Let ω = ω0 + ∆ω, where ∆ω is small

b-Parallel Resonant Circuit

The parallel RLC resonant circuit, shown in Figure 6.2a, is the dual of the series
RLC circuit. The input impedance is
2-TRANSMISSION LINE RESONATORS
As we have seen, ideal lumped circuit elements are often unattainable at microwave
frequencies, so distributed elements are frequently used. In this section we will study the use
of transmission line sections with various lengths and terminations (usually open- or
shortcircuited) to form resonators. Because we are interested in the Q of these resonators, we
must consider transmission lines with losses.

a- Short-Circuited λ/2 Line

A length of lossy transmission line, short circuited at one end, The line has a characteristic
impedance, Z0, propagation constant, β, and attenuation constant, α. At the resonant
frequency ω = ω0, the length of the line λ/2.
the input impedance is
b- Short-Circuited λ/4 Line
c-Open-Circuited λ/2 Line
RECTANGULAR WAVEGUIDE
Rectangular waveguides were one of the earliest types of transmission lines used to
transport microwave signals, and they are still used for many applications.Alarge variety of
components such as couplers, detectors, isolators, attenuators, and slotted lines are
commercially available for various standard waveguide bands from 1 to 220 GHz.
There is, however, still a need for waveguides in many cases, including high-power
systems, millimeter wave applications, satellite systems, and some precision test
applications. The hollow rectangular waveguide can propagate TM and TE modes but not
TEM waves since only one conductor is present. We will see that the TM and TE modes of
a rectangular waveguide have cutoff frequencies below which propagation is not possible,
similar to the TM and TE modes of the parallel plate guide.

3-RECTANGULAR WAVEGUIDE CAVITY RESONATORS

Microwave resonators can also be constructed from closed sections of waveguide.

Because radiation loss from an open-ended waveguide can be significant, waveguide
resonators are usually short circuited at both ends, thus forming a closed box, or
cavity. Electric and magnetic energy is stored within the cavity enclosure, and power is
dissipated in the metallic walls of the cavity as well as in the dielectric material that
may fill the cavity.
TE10Ɩ Mode
m = 1, n = 0