C h a p t e r Six

Microwave Resonators
• 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.
• 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.
 6.1 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.
 Series Resonant Circuit
• A series RLC resonant circuit is shown in Figure
6.1a.

FIGURE 6.1 A series RLC resonator and its

response.(a) A series RLC resonator circuit
FIGURE 6.1 A series RLC resonator and its
response. (b) Input impedance magnitude versus
frequency.
• The input impedance is

and the complex power delivered to the

resonator is
 (6. 3a)

(6. 3b)

(6. 3c)

where Vc is the voltage across the capacitor.

• Then the complex power of (6.2) can be
rewritten as
• Pin = Ploss + 2 jω(Wm − We), (6.4)
• the input impedance of (6.1) can be rewritten
as

(6.5)
• Resonance occurs when the average stored
magnetic and electric energies are equal, or
Wm = We. Then from (6.5) and (6.3a), the input
impedance at resonance is

• which is purely real.

• From (6.3b,c), Wm = We implies that the
resonant frequency, ω0, can be defined as
(6.6)

• Another important parameter of a resonant

circuit is its Q, or quality factor, which is
defined as

(6.7)
• Thus 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.
• For the series resonant circuit of Figure 6.1a,
• Wm = We at resonance,

(6.8)

• which shows that Q increases as R decreases.

• Next, consider the behavior of the input
impedance of this resonator near its resonant
frequency [1]. Let ω = ω0 + ω, where  ω is
small. The input impedance can then be
• rewritten from (6.1) as
• since ω02 = 1/LC.
• Now ω2−ω02 =(ω − ω0)(ω + ω0)= ω(2ω −  ω)
≃ 2ω  ω for small ω.
• Thus,
Zin ≃ R + j2L ω
≃ R + j2R Q0 ω / ω0 (6.9)
• Alternatively, a resonator with loss can be
modeled as a lossless resonator whose
resonant frequency, ω0 , has been replaced
with a complex effective resonant frequency:
• ω0 ← ω0(1 + j / 2Q0 ) (6.10)
• This can be seen by considering the input
impedance of a series resonator with no loss,
as given by (6.9) with R = 0:
Zin = j2L (ω − ω0).
• Then substituting the complex frequency of
(6.10) for ω0 gives
• When the frequency is such that |Zin|2 = 2R2,
then by (6.2) the average (real) power
delivered to the circuit is one-half that
delivered at resonance.
• If BW is the fractional bandwidth, then ω/ω0 =
BW/2 at the upper band edge. Using (6.9)
gives
• |R + jRQ0(BW)|2 = 2R2, or
• BW = 1 /Q0 (6.11)
 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

(6.12)
FIGURE 6.2 A parallel RLC resonator and its
response. (a) A parallel RLC circuit.
FIGURE 6.2 A parallel RLC resonator and its
response. (b) Input impedance magnitude
versus frequency.
(6.13)

(6.14a)

(6.14b)

(6.14c)
• where IL is the current through the inductor.
Then the complex power of (6.13) can be
rewritten as
• Pin = Ploss + 2 jω(Wm − We), (6.15)
which is identical to (6.4).
• Similarly, the input impedance can be
expressed as
(6.16)
• As in the series case, resonance occurs when the
average stored magnetic and electric energies
are equal, or Wm = We. Then from (6.16) and
(6.14a), the input impedance at resonance is

• which is purely real.

• From (6.14 b,c), Wm = We implies that the
resonant frequency, ω0, can be defined as

(6.17)
• Resonance in the case of a parallel RLC circuit
is sometimes referred to as an anti-resonance.
• the unloaded Q of the parallel resonant circuit
can be expressed as
• Q0 = ω0 2Wm / Ploss = R /ω0L = ω0RC (6.18)

• since Wm = We at resonance. This result shows

that the Q of the parallel resonant circuit
increases as R increases.
 Loaded and Unloaded Q
• The unloaded Q, Q0, defined in the preceding
sections is a characteristic of the resonator
itself, in the absence of any loading effects
caused by external circuitry.
• In practice, however, a resonator is invariably
coupled to other circuitry, which will have the
effect of lowering the overall, or loaded Q, QL ,
of the circuit.
• Figure 6.3 depicts a resonator coupled to an
external load resistor, RL .

• FIGURE 6.3 A resonant circuit connected to an

external load, RL .
• If we define an external Q, Qe, as

(6.22)
• then the loaded Q can be expressed as

(6.23)

• Table 6.1 summarizes the above results for

series and parallel resonant circuits.
6.2 TRANSMISSION LINE RESONATORS

• ideal lumped circuit elements are often

unattainable at microwave frequencies, so
distributed elements are frequently used.
Short-Circuited λ/2 Line

FIGURE 6.4 A short-

circuited length of
lossy transmission
line, and the voltage
distributions for
n = 1 (l = λ/2) and n =
2 ( l= λ) resonators.
• At the resonant frequency ω = ω0, the length
of the line is = λ/2.
• From (2.91), the input impedance is
Zin = Z0 tanh(α + jβ) l.
Using an identity for the hyperbolic tangent
gives
(6.24)
• Observe that Zin = jZ0 tan βl if α = 0 (a lossless
line).
• In practice it is usually desirable to use a low-
loss transmission line, so we assume that αl ≪
1, and then tanh αl ≃ αl .
• Again let ω = ω0 + ω, where  ω is small.
Then, assuming a TEM line, we have
• where vp is the phase velocity of the
transmission line. Because l = λ/2 = πvp /ω0 for
• ω = ω0, we have
• β = π + ωπ /ω0
(6.25)
• We can identify the resistance of the
equivalent circuit as
• R = Z0αl , (6.26a)
• and the inductance of the equivalent circuit as
• L = Z0π /2ω0 (6.26b)
• The capacitance of the equivalent circuit can
be found from (6.6) as
• C = 1 /ω02 L (6.26c)
• The resonator of Figure 6.4 thus resonates for ω = 0
( l = λ/2), and its input impedance at resonance is Zin =
R = Z0αl.
• Resonance also occurs for = nλ/2, n = 1, 2, 3, . . . . The
voltage distributions for the n = 1 and n = 2 resonant
modes are shown in Figure 6.4. The unloaded Q of
this resonator can be found from (6.8) and (6.26) as
• Q0 = ω0L /R = π /2αl = β/ 2α (6.27)
• since βl = π at the first resonance. This result shows
that the Q decreases as the attenuation of the line
increases, as expected.
 EXAMPLE 6.1 Q OF HALF-WAVE COAXIAL
LINE RESONATORS
• A λ/2 resonator is made from a piece of copper coaxial line
having an inner conductor radius of 1 mm and an outer
conductor radius of 4 mm. If the resonant frequency is 5
GHz, compare the unloaded Q of an air-filled coaxial line
resonator to that of a Teflon-filled coaxial line resonator.
• Solution
• We first compute the attenuation of the coaxial line, using
the results of Examples 2.6 or 2.7. From Appendix F, the
conductivity of copper is σ = 5.813 × 107 S/m.
• The surface resistivity at 5 GHz is
 Short-Circuited λ/4 Line
• A parallel type of resonance (antiresonance)
can be achieved using a short-circuited
transmission line of length λ/4. The input
impedance of a shorted line of length is

(6.28)
• where the last result was obtained by
multiplying both numerator and denominator
by −j cot β. Now assume that = λ/4 at ω = ω0,
and let ω = ω0 + ω. Then, for a TEM line,

and so
• Also, as before, tanh α α for small loss. Using
these results in (6.28) gives

(6.29)

• since απω/2ω0 1. This result is of the same

form as the impedance of a parallel RLC
circuit, as given in (6.19):
(6.30a)

(6.30b)

(6.30c)
• The resonator of Figure 6.4 therefore has a
parallel-type resonance for l = λ/4, with an
input impedance at resonance of
• Zin = R = Z0 /α l.
• From (6.18) and (6.30) the unloaded Q of this
resonator is
• Q0 = ω0RC = π /4α l = β /2α , (6.31)
since = π/2β at resonance.
 Open-Circuited λ/2 Line
• A practical resonator that is often used in
microstrip circuits consists of an open
circuited length of transmission line, as shown
in Figure 6.5. This resonator will behave as a
parallel resonant circuit when the length is
λ/2, or multiples of λ/2.
• The input impedance of an open-circuited
lossy transmission line of length is
• As before, assume that l = λ/2 at ω = ω0, and
let ω = ω0 + ∆ω. Then,
• β = π + π ∆ ω /ω0
FIGURE 6.5 An open-
circuited length of lossy
transmission line, and
the voltage distributions
for n = 1 ( l = λ/2) and
n = 2 ( l = λ) resonators.
 (6.33)

• Comparison with the input impedance of a parallel

resonant circuit, as given by (6.19), suggests that
the resistance of the equivalent RLC circuit is
(6.34a)

(6.34b)

(6.34c)

(6.35)
 EXAMPLE 6.2 A HALF-WAVE MICROSTRIP
RESONATOR
• Consider a microstrip resonator constructed from a λ/2 length of
50Ω open-circuited microstrip line. The substrate is Teflon (εr =
2.08, tan δ = 0.0004), with a thickness of 0.159 cm, and the
conductors are copper.
• Compute the required length of the line for resonance at 5 GHz,
and the unloaded Q of the resonator.
• Ignore fringing fields at the end of the line.

• Solution
• From (3.197), the width of a 50Ω microstrip line on this substrate
is found to be W = 0.508 cm, and the effective permittivity is εe =
1.80. The resonant length can then be calculated as
 6.3 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.
• Coupling to a cavity resonator may be by a small aperture, or a
small probe or loop. We will see that there are many possible
resonant modes for a cavity resonator, corresponding to field
variations along the three dimensions of the structure.
• We will first derive the resonant frequencies for
a general TE or TM resonant mode of a
rectangular cavity, and then derive an
expression for the unloaded Q of the TE10
mode.
• A complete treatment of the unloaded Q for
arbitrary TE and TM modes can be made using
the same procedure, but is not included here
because of its length and complexity.
Resonant Frequencies

FIGURE 6.6
A rectangular cavity
resonator, and the
electric field
variations for the
TE101 and TE102
resonant modes.
• From Table 3.2 the transverse electric fields (Ex ,
Ey) of the TEmn or TMmn rectangular waveguide
mode can be written as
• E̅t (x, y, z) = ē (x, y) ( A+e−jβmnz + A−e jβmnz ) (6.36)
• where ē (x, y) is the transverse variation of the
mode, and A+ , A− are arbitrary amplitudes of the
forward and backward traveling waves. The
propagation constant of the m, nth TE or TM
mode is
• where k = ω √εμ, and μ and ε are the permeability and permittivity of the
material filling the cavity.
• Applying the condition that Ēt = 0 at z = 0 to (6.36) implies that A+ = −A− (as
we should expect for reflection from a perfectly conducting wall). Then
the condition that
• Ēt = 0 at z = d leads to the equation
• Ēt (x, y, d) = −ē(x, y)A+ 2 j sin βmnd = 0.
• The only nontrivial (A+ = 0) solution occurs for
• βmnd = l π, l = 1, 2, 3, . . . , (6.38)
• which implies that the cavity must be an integer multiple of a half-guide
wavelength long at the resonant frequency. No nontrivial solutions are
possible for other lengths, or for frequencies other than the resonant
frequencies.
• A resonance wave number for the rectangular
cavity can be defined as

• Then we can refer to the TEmnl or TMmnl resonant

mode of the cavity, where the indices m, n,l
indicate the number of variations in the standing
wave pattern in the x, y, z directions,
respectively. The resonant frequency of the TEmnl
or TMmnl mode is given by
 (6.40)

• If b < a < d, the dominant resonant mode (lowest

resonant frequency) will be the TE101 mode,
corresponding to the TE10 dominant waveguide
mode in a shorted guide of length λg/2, and is
similar to the short-circuited λ/2 transmission
line resonator. The dominant TM resonant mode
is the TM110 mode.
 Unloaded Q of the TE10l Mode
• From Table 3.2, (6.36), and the fact that A− =
−A+, the total fields for the TE10l resonant mode
can be written as
(6.41a)

(6.41b)

(6.41c)
• Letting E0 = −2 j A+ and using (6.38) allows
these expressions to be simplified to
(6.42a)

(6.42b)

(6.42c)
(6.43a)

(6.43b)
(6.45)
(6.46)
(6.47)

(6.48)

(6.49)
 EXAMPLE 6.3 DESIGN OF A RECTANGULAR
CAVITY RESONATOR
• A rectangular waveguide cavity is made from a
piece of copper WR-187 H-band waveguide,
with a = 4.755 cm and b = 2.215 cm. The cavity
is filled with polyethylene
• (εr = 2.25, tan δ = 0.0004). If resonance is to
occur at f = 5 GHz, find the required length, d,
and the resulting unloaded Q for the l = 1 and
l = 2 resonant modes.
 6.4 CIRCULAR WAVEGUIDE CAVITY
RESONATORS
• A cylindrical cavity resonator can be constructed
from a section of circular waveguide shorted at
both ends, similar to rectangular cavities.
• Because the dominant circular waveguide mode
is the TE11 mode, the dominant cylindrical cavity
mode is the TE111 mode.
• We will derive the resonant frequencies for the
TEnml and TMnml circular cavity modes, and an
expression for the unloaded Q of the TEnml mode.
• Circular cavities are often used for microwave
frequency meters. The cavity is constructed with
a movable top wall to allow mechanical tuning of
the resonant frequency, and the cavity is loosely
coupled to a waveguide through a small aperture.
• In operation, power will be absorbed by the
cavity as it is tuned to the operating frequency of
the system; this absorption can be monitored
with a power meter elsewhere in the system. The
• The mechanical tuning dial is usually directly
calibrated in frequency, as in the model shown
in Figure 6.7.
• Because frequency resolution is determined by
the Q of the resonator, the TE011 mode is often
used for frequency meters because its Q is
much higher than the Q of the dominant
circular cavity mode. This is also the reason for
a loose coupling to the cavity.
 Resonant Frequencies
• The geometry of a cylindrical cavity is shown in Figure
6.8. As in the case of the rectangular cavity, the
solution is simplified by beginning with the circular
waveguide modes, which already satisfy the necessary
boundary conditions on the wall of the circular
waveguide.
• From Table 3.5, the transverse electric fields (Eρ, Eφ) of
the TEnm or TMnm circular waveguide mode can be
written as
• E̅t (ρ, , z) = ē (ρ, ) ( A+e−jβnmz + A−e jβnmz ) (6.50)
• where e̅ (ρ, φ) represents the transverse
variation of the mode, and A+ and A− are
arbitrary amplitudes of the forward and
backward traveling waves.
• The propagation constant of the TEnm mode is,
from (3.126),

(6.51a)
FIGURE 6.8 A cylindrical resonant
cavity, and the electric field distribution
for resonant mode with l = 1 or l = 2.
• While the propagation constant of the TMnm
mode is, from (3.139),

(6.51b)
• where k = ω √ με.
• In order to have E¯t = 0 at z = 0, d, we must
choose A+ = −A−, and A+ sin βnm d = 0,
• or βnmd = l π, for l = 0, 1, 2, 3, . . . , (6.52)
• which implies that the waveguide must be an
integer number of half-guide wavelengths
long. Thus, the resonant frequency of the TEnml
mode is

(6.53a)

• and the resonant frequency of the TMnml mode

is

(6.53b)
FIGURE 6.9 Resonant
mode chart for a
cylindrical cavity.
Adapted from data
from R. E. Collin,
Foundations for
Microwave
Engineering, 2nd
edition,
Wiley–IEEE Press,
Hoboken, N.J., 2001.
Used with permission.
 Unloaded Q of the TEnml Mode
• From Table 3.5, (6.50), and the fact that A+ = −A−, the
fields of the TEnm mode can be written as
• where η = √μ/ε and H0 = −2 j A+.
• Because the time-average stored electric and
magnetic energies are equal, the total stored
energy is
• The power loss in the conducting walls is

(6.56)
• the unloaded Q of the cavity with imperfectly
conducting walls but lossless dielectric is

(6.57)
• To compute the unloaded Q due to dielectric
loss, we must compute the power dissipated
• in the dielectric. Thus,
• Then (6.8) gives the unloaded Q due to dielectric
loss as

(6.59)
where tan δ is the loss tangent of the dielectric.
This is the same as the result for Qd of (6.48) for
the rectangular cavity. When both conductor and
dielectric losses are present, the total unloaded
cavity Q can be found from (6.49).
 EXAMPLE 6.4 DESIGN OF A CIRCULAR
CAVITY RESONATOR
• A circular cavity resonator with d = 2a is to be
designed to resonate at 5.0 GHz in the TE011
mode. If the cavity is made from copper and is
Teflon filled (εr = 2.08, tan δ = 0.0004), find its
dimensions and unloaded Q.
• The surface resistivity of copper at 5 GHz is Rs =
0.0184 Ω . Then from (6.57), with n = 0, m = = 1,
and d = 2a, the unloaded Q due to conductor
losses is

• where (6.51a) was used to simplify the

expression. From (6.59) the unloaded Q due to
dielectric loss is
• This result can be compared with the rectangular
cavity case of Example 6.3, which had Q0 = 1927
for the TE101 mode and Q0 = 2065 for the TE102
mode.
• If this cavity were air filled, the Q would increase
to 42,400. ■