FREQUENCY SPECTRUM

Figure 1, which follows, depicts the electromagnetic radiation spectrum and some of the commonly used or known
areas. Figure 2 depicts the more common uses of the microwave spectrum. Figure 3 shows areas of the spectrum which
are frequently referred to by band designations rather than by frequency.

Section 7-1 provides an additional breakdown of the EO/IR spectrum.

To convert from frequency (f) to wavelength (8) and vice versa, recall that f = c/8, or 8 = c/f;
where c = speed of light.

3x10 8 3x105 300 0.3 3x10 8 3x105 300 0.3

8meter ' ' ' ' or f Hz ' f kHz ' f MHz ' f GHz '
f Hz f kHz f MHz f GHz 8meter 8meter 8meter 8meter

Some quick rules of thumb follow:

Metric:
Wavelength in cm = 30 / frequency in GHz
For example: at 10 GHz, the wavelength = 30/10 = 3 cm
English:
Wavelength in ft = 1 / frequency in GHz
For example: at 10 GHz, the wavelength = 1/10 = 0.1 ft

Figure 1. Electromagnetic Radiation Spectrum

2-3.1
0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.8 1.0 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 20 30 40 50 60 80 100
GHz GHz GHz

1m 10 cm 1 cm

Figure 2. The Microwave Spectrum

FREQUENCY (MHz) FREQUENCY (GHz)

20 30 100 200 300 500 1.5 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 15 20 30 40 60 80 100 200 300 400
12 18 27

110

VHF UHF L S C X K*u K K*a V W Millimeter

HF
U.S. INDUSTRY STANDARD BANDS (IEEE Radar Designation)

9 (UHF) 10 (SHF)
7 (HF) 8 (VHF) 11 (EHF) 12
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BANDS

250

A B C D E F G H I J K L M
MILITARY STANDARD BANDS
* "u" stands for unabsorbed or under K; "a" stands for absorption region or above K

Figure 3. Frequency Band Designations

2-3.2