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In the microwave regime, a waveguide normally consists of a hollow metallic conductor, usually 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 ( optical fiber), usually circular in cross section. In integrated optical circuits an optical waveguide may consist of a thin dielectric film.

In the radio frequency regime, ionized layers of the stratosphere and refractive surfaces of the troposphere may also act as a waveguide.

Source: from Federal Standard 1037C and from MIL-STD-188

In digital computing, the term Waveguide can also be used for data buffers used as delay lines that simulate physical Waveguide behavior, such as in Digital Waveguide Synthesis .

Waveguide propagation modes depend on the operating wavelength and polarizationThis article treats polarization in electrodynamics. Other articles treat polarization in electrostatics, polarization in politics and polarization in psychology. In electrodynamics, polarization is a property of waves, such as light and other electromagn and the shape and size of the guide. In hollow metallic waveguides, the fundamental modes are the transverse electric TE_1,0 mode for rectangular and TE_1,1 for circular waveguides, seen here in cross-section:

See also

• List of antenna termsThis is a glossary of antenna-related terms derived from the Glossary of Telecommunication Terms published as Federal Standard 1037C. Please see the Federal Standard article for copyright-related issues, as not all parts of the source document are in the
• Radio wave
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• Dielectric waveguideIn telecommunication, a dielectric waveguide is a waveguide that consists of a dielectric material surrounded by another dielectric material, such as air, glass, or plastic, with a lower refractive index. An example of a dielectric waveguide is an optical
• Closed waveguideIn telecommunication, a closed waveguide is an electromagnetic waveguide (a) that is tubular, usually with a circular or rectangular cross section, (b) that has electrically conducting walls, (c) that may be hollow or filled with a dielectric material, (d
• Cutoff wavelengthIn telecommunication, the term cutoff wavelength has the following meanings: 1. The wavelength corresponding to the cutoff frequency. In an uncabled single-mode optical fiber, the wavelength greater than which a particular waveguide mode ceases to be a bo
• PropagationThe word propagation can mean: Multiplication or increase, as by natural reproduction. In genetics, propagation is another term for the elongation part of transcription. In agriculture and horticulture, propagation is the production of increased numbers o
• Radiation mode
• Feed horn
• Angular misalignment loss
• Power transmission
• Slotted waveguide
• Dielectric constant
• Leaky mode
• Filled cable
• List of fiber optic terms
• List of telecommunications transmission terms
• Horn
• Transmission medium