volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

Most tunneling effects are investigated using a one-dimensional model, but such an approach fails to explain the phenomena of the propagation of wave in a system with geometric discontinuities. This work studies the tunneling characteristics in a waveguide system that consists of a middle section with a distinct cutoff frequency, which is controlled by the cross-sectional geometry. Unlike in the one-dimensional case, in which only the fundamental mode is considered, in a virtually three-dimensional system, multiple modes have to be taken into consideration. High-order modes (HOMs) modify the amplitude and the phase of the fundamental mode (TE₁₀), thus subsequently affecting the transmission and group delay of a wave. The effect of the high-order evanescent modes is calculated, and the results are compared with the simulated ones using a full-wave solver. Both oversized and undersized waveguides reveal the necessity of considering the HOMs. The underlying physics is manifested using a multiple-reflection model. This study indicates that the high-order evanescent modes are essential to the explanation of the phenomena in a tunneling system with geometrical discontinuities.

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Dr. Hsin-Yu Yao

Prof. Tsun-Hun Chang