Some Fundamental Properties of Azimuthally Magnetized Solid-Plasma Circular Guide

The mode theory of a circular guide containing azimuthally magnetized solid-plasma is considered, emphasizing the nonreciprocal properties of rotationally symmetric TM modes. Based on the anisotropic effects of phase shifting and cutoff, experienced by the TM01 propagating mode, a novel class of solidplasma nonreciprocal devices - phasers, cutoff switches and isolators for short millimeter waves are proposed and substantiated. Important criteria for nonreciprocal operation of gyroelectrically loaded guide are derived, useful in selecting proper semiconductor material for practical designs of these components. An analytic explanation of the key property of nonperiodic solid-plasma guide to propagate backward wave TM01 mode for one direction of magnetostatic field is presented. Possible applications of this effect in constructing magnetically tuned filters, traveling wave amplifiers and oscillators for millimeter frequencies are outlined.