A W-Band Low-Loss Dual-Polarization Quasi-TEM Waveguide

As an enabling feed/interconnect element for various millimeter wave components, dual polarization quasi-transverse electromagnetic (TEM) waveguides at W-band (75-110 GHz) are investigated with two-dimensional electromagnetic crystal (EMXT) surfaces as the four boundary walls instead of the regular metallic walls. A 2.54 mm x 2.54 mm quasi-TEM square waveguide prototype with a length of 2 mm is fabricated and demonstrated. Both eigenmode and full-wave EM simulations of the prototype verify the quasi-TEM propagation at the designed frequency of 95 GHz with a bandwidth of more than 10% and the low insertion loss for the entire W-band. The prototype waveguide is measured in a WR-10 fixture and the results agree with simulations well. To better understand the loss mechanisms, various design and packaging parameters are studied. Undesirable resonant surface modes have been identified as a critical cause of loss at specific frequencies. This type of waveguides may also be useful for spatial power combining, low loss interconnects, and packaging for millimeter wave systems.