|
Waveguide:
A material medium that confines and guides a propagating electromagnetic
wave. In the microwave regime, a waveguide normally consists of a hollow
metallic conductor, generally rectangular, elliptical, or circular in
cross-section. This type of waveguide may, under certain conditions,
contain a solid or gaseous dielectric material. In the optical regime, a
waveguide used as a long transmission line consists of a solid
dielectric
filament (fiber),
usually circular in cross-section. In integrated
optical circuits
an optical waveguide may consist of a thin dielectric film. In the RF
regime, ionized layers of the stratosphere and the refractive surfaces
of the troposphere may also serve as a waveguide.
|
