A Wideband High-Performance 30–50 GHz E-Plane Waveguide Magic-T for Split-Block Fabrication

This article delves into the development of a wideband high-performance 30–50 GHz E-plane waveguide magic-T designed for split-block fabrication. The magic-T, a four-port junction known for its high port-to-port isolation, is crucial for applications in radar, telecommunications, and radio astronomy. The article explores the challenges of traditional T/Y-junctions and the need for compact, complex waveguide networks that combine multiple components. The design process involves using CST Studio Suite and WASP-NET software for optimization, ensuring state-of-the-art performance in terms of return loss and isolation. The fabricated prototype demonstrates excellent resilience to misalignment and meets the requirements for return loss and isolation, with a fractional bandwidth of 47.9%. The article concludes with a comparison of the proposed design with other high-performance magic-Ts, highlighting its superior performance and ease of fabrication. This work proves the feasibility of broadband, easy-to-fabricate magic-Ts with state-of-the-art performance, paving the way for direct integration into larger waveguide assemblies in various applications.