We present experimental and theoretical results on bound states in rec
tangular bent waveguides. Such bound states can be observed in electro
magnetic waveguides and quantum wires. For a class of bent waveguides
one can produce confined TE modes; such TE modes are directly related
to bound states of scalar fields in the curved two-dimensional space f
rom which the waveguides are constructed. For sufficently sharp bends,
one can produce multiple bound TE modes. We calculate the bound-state
energies and field configurations for a particular class of sharply b
ent waveguides. These waveguides are constructed, and both bound-state
energies and fields are directly measured and compared with theoretic
al predictions.