Design, characteristics and applications of dielectric waveguides at millimeter wave frequencies

Lateral length of hollow and coaxial waveguides must decrease with increasi ng frequency. at 100 GHz the inner diameter of the outer conductor of a coa xial line must be equal Dr less than 1 mm. Hence the waveguides become unwi eldy more over most hollow waveguides are rigid. The dielectric waveguide, in particular with a rectangular cross section, made of soft polymer offers a low loss and flexible alternative for many millimeter wave applications. The paper reports on the design criteria, the fabrication, experimentally determined parameters of dielectric fibers made of polyethylene for 70 GHz and 150 GHz and finally on applications.