The relative power-carrying capacity of high-frequency waveguides

The paper is an attempt to assess the power-carrying capacity, within the limits of electrical breakdown, of various forms of metal waveguide. The discussion relates to wave modes commonly used inside tubes of rectangular and circular cross-section, or alternatively outside a solid wire. It is assumed that the guides are surrounded by air dielectric, of uniform cross-section, free of obstacles and discontinuities. The results show that for hollow guides the H modes are inferior to the E modes in respect of power-carrying capacity. The solid wire guide supporting a surface wave has an astonishing performance considering the cross-section of the conductor concerned, and for millimetre wavelengths particularly this form has much to recommend it.