Apparatus and methods for generating an electromagnetic wave along a transmission medium

A launcher, comprising:

• a plurality of dielectric antennas coupled to a plurality of dielectric cores, wherein at least one transmitter facilitates launching an electromagnetic wave that propagates along one of the plurality of dielectric cores, and wherein the plurality of dielectric antennas radiates, according to the electromagnetic wave received by each dielectric antenna, a plurality of instances of electromagnetic waves that combines to form a combined electromagnetic wave;
• and
• a structure that facilitates directing the combined electromagnetic wave to an interface of a transmission medium for guiding propagation of the combined electromagnetic wave along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path.

A method, comprising:

• generating, by a plurality of dielectric antennas of a waveguide system, a plurality of instances of electromagnetic waves that combines to form a combined electromagnetic wave;
• and
• directing, by the waveguide system, the combined electromagnetic wave to an interface of a transmission medium for guiding propagation of the combined electromagnetic wave along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path.