Design of short high-power TE11-HE11 mode converters in highly overmoded corrugated waveguides

A theoretical parametric study of TE₁₁ to HE₁₁ mode conversion in highly oversized, circumferentially corrugated circular waveguides with different inner diameters is presented for various frequencies in the range of 28 to 140 GHz. The depth of the annular slots is tapered gradually from one half to one quarter wavelength. Computer-aided optimization of converter length, shape of corrugations, and nonlinear slot depth variation has been achieved with a scattering matrix code employing the modal field matching techniques (modular analysis concept). Relatively short mode transducers with matched converter lengths are feasible. The optimum conversion lengths are L₁≈0.5λ_B (short converter) and L₂≈1.2λ_B (long converter), where λ_B is the beat wavelength of the TE₁₁ and TM₁₁ modes in the corresponding smooth-walled circular waveguide. The predicted performances of short and long mode transducers are practically identical. Experimental results taken at 70 GHz (i.d.=27.79 mm) are in excellent agreement with the theoretically predicted performance data. In all cases the HE₁₁ output mode purity is 99% to 99.5%. The maximum cross-polarization and input-reflection levels are below -29 dB and -50 dB, respectively