| By :
Shane Hester
All around us there are powerful waves that can be used for communication, power, and transmission. Harnessing these waves and using them requires special knowledge and equipments. And everything begins with the waveguide. Waveguides are instruments or structures built specifically to channel waves to a location. Without waveguides, much of our communication systems today would be useless. Waves like sounds and electromagnet are crucial to our everyday life even though they not given much thought by many people. If there is no object to guide these waves, the internet wouldnt be possible. For every kind of wave there is a specific wave guide. Electromagnetic waves cant be guided by waveguides for microwaves or sound waves and vice versa. There are natural and artificial waveguides. Artificial or manufactured waveguides can be bought in any electronic shop or industry suppliers depending which type you need. Students are often taught how waveguides are used and even have science projects using them. Waveguides occur in nature as well. These are not manufactured and created by natural means like a particular layer in the ocean that helps sound waves emitted by whales and other sea creatures reach long distances. Another example is the sound wave travelling in a cave. This principle was adapted to create the medical stethoscope. Since waves are a natural phenomenon, the idea to create an object that can guide them was not surprising. People knew that it was possible but just didnt know how to do it. It was in 1893 when scientists first began to explore the feasibility of building waveguides. J.J. Thomson proposed the concept of studying waves but O.J. Lodge in 1984 was the first man to actually do an experiment on the theory. And in 1897 Lord Rayleigh made a mathematical analysis of electromagnetic waves and then published another one on sound waves which was called The Theory of Sound. In our day to day activities, we dont really see it but most of them are centered around objects that rely on the power of waves. Electronic gadgets like the TV and cell phone all use waveguides. Cars, planes, ships, and other vehicles also depend on waveguides for their proper function. Truly, Mother Nature has given us a wonderful gift in the form of these waves. But what is more amazing is the gift of knowledge given to those who have created the waveguides. Without their brilliant accomplishments, wed still probably send pigeons to carry our mail.
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