Using Bessel Functions to Describe Wave Behavior

Bessel Function Jm(r)

Bessel Function Ym(r)

1.2

0.5

1.0

0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
-0.2

0.0

-0.5

Y0(r)
Y1(r)
Y2(r)
Y3(r)

-1.0

-0.4
-0.6
-2

10

12

14

-2

16

10

12

14

16

By combining our two Bessel Functions, we can write a

general solution for f is:
f (r ) A1 J m ( r r ) B1Ym ( r r )

Hankel Functions
Single Bessel functions generally represent standing waves. Linear
combinations of Bessel functions, which are also solutions to Bessels
equation, are used to describe propagating waves:

H m1 r J m r jYm r and H m 2 r J m r jYm r

where the Hs are Hankel functions of the first and second kind.
0.4

J0(r)
Y0(r)

0.3

(1)

|H0 (r)|
1/SQRT(r)

0.2
0.1

Magnitude

Bessel Function Value

0.8

Bessel Function Value

J0(r)
J1(r)
J2(r)
J3(r)

0.0
-0.1
-0.2
-0.3
-0.4
0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Reasonability Checking the Hankel Functions

When we discussed conservation of power, we showed that
energy radiated spherically dropped off as one over R squared:
2

E
P
2
Av radiated2 Watts / m 2 E H *
H
4R

Thus, either field quantity will drop off as 1/R.

For the propagating Cartesian wave (i.e., a
plane wave, we saw no magnitude dependence
with R in a lossless medium. If energy is
radiated isotropically in a cylindrical system:
Pradiated
Pradiated
L
ds 2rL
L
2

r
s
L Thus, power density drops off as 1/r, which
implies that the field quantities (E or H) will
drop off as one over the square root of r. Also,
like the Hankel functions, it is singular at r=0.

Example of a Cylindrical Wave

Propagating in the Radial Direction
When a wave strikes an edge, such as the wedge apex shown
below, the wave energy will diffract and radiate cylindrically in the
radial direction. The amount of energy re-radiated is commonly
calculated using the Geometrical Theory of Diffraction (GTD)

Diffracted Cylindrical
Wave

Summary of Cylindrical Wave Functions

Traveling waves:
H m1 r J m r jYm r r direction
H m 2 r J m r jYm r r direction

Standing waves:
J m ( r r ) and Ym ( r r )
Evanescent waves: defined by modified Bessel functions
K m ( r )

j m1 H m( 2) j r and I m ( r ) j m J m ( j r )

2
Attenuating traveling waves
H m1 r H m1 r jr r direction
H m 2 r H m 2 r jr r direction

Attenuating standing waves

J m ( r ) J m r jr and Ym ( r ) Ym r jr

Cylindrical Wave Example

y

a
z

For this cylindrical waveguide example (a

wave propagating inside the cylinder), a field
component will be bounded in r, and hence
x we will use a bounded form for f :
f (r ) A1 J m ( r r ) B1Ym ( r r )
The field is bounded cyclically in , so

g ( ) C2 cosm D2 sin m
j z
j z
And it is unbounded in z: h( z ) A3e z B3e z

Thus, a general expression for this geometry is:

(r , , z ) A1 J m ( r r ) B1Ym ( r r )
C2 cosm D2 sin m A3e j z B3e j z
z

Cylindrical Resonator Signal Source

Cylindrical Resonator Signal Source

Cylindrical Resonator Signal Source

IMPATT Diode