A problem in setting excitation (plane wave) in CST

Hey guys, I met a problem in setting plane wave source excitation. I choose circular polarization, but I don't know the exact meaning of "ref. frequency", even after a long search online. Does it refer to the frequency of the plane wave? (I don't think so) Could anybody be so kind to help me? Many thanks.:)

zjuqsr,

I always use linear plane waves because they are easier to envision ... but doesn't the refrence frequency have to do with the revolutions/sec of the wave around the propogation axis?

Dear EMCDude2:
Thanks for your reply, but the revolutions/sec of the wave around the propogation axis is the same as the frequency of the polarized wave, right? So the so-called "ref. frequency" is the same as frequency? Then what does the word "ref." mean? Thank you.

I can't give you a for sure answer but maybe I can offer some clues.

I'm assuming you are using the transient (FIT) solver on Microwave Studio -- so perhaps look at it from a time domain perspective. Your excitation is probably a gaussian pulse which contains all frequencies that were specified by you in the frequency settings of the model so that hasn't changed. My thought is that the frequency content of the excitation is not changed, but the polarization also has a frequency. Check out the picture I found from Wikipedia

File:Circular.Polarization.Circularly.Polarized.Li ght Right.Handed.Animation.305x190.255Colors.gif - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linear polarized waves do not require reference frequency so it's really pointing to something having to do with the polarization.

Why are you using circular polarization? I have not had anything come up that would really require it. Typically EM waves can be considered linear unless maybe you are talking about a wave from a spiral antenna of some sort.

It's so nice that you help me so much. I wiill think about it carefully. I use circular polarization because I'm stimulating something about circular dichroism. The certain structure requires this kind of wave.