Higher order modal interactions in conical power combiners

This paper presents a discussion on the importance of full wave field simulations in the understanding and design of conical line power combiners. Knowledge of the basic modal patterns in conical lines is useful for basic design of the structure, but, on its own, provides limited insight into the behavior of the highly perturbed combining structure, especially when the structure is driven asymmetrically. Full wave analyses of the field distributions at the frequencies of interest, coupled with knowledge of the basic modal patterns, may often lead to simplified design rules or a better understanding of observed scattering behavior at the ports.