Full band orthomode transducers

A full band waveguide orthomode transducer (OMT), comprising:

• a first waveguide section extending from a first waveguide port to a first interior end;
• a second waveguide section extending from a second waveguide port to a second interior end;
• a third waveguide section extending from a third waveguide port to a third interior end joined at a first juncture to the first interior end of the first waveguide section so as to be substantially collinear therewith;
• wherein the second interior end of the second waveguide section is joined to the third waveguide section at a second juncture so as to be substantially perpendicular to the first and third waveguide sections;
• a first wire grid polarizer in the first interior end of the first waveguide section and co-extensive therewith, the first wire grid polarizer being transparent to electromagnetic signals having a first polarization and reflective of electromagnetic signals having a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization;
• and
• a second wire grid polarizer in the second interior end of the second waveguide section and co-extensive therewith, the second wire grid polarizer being located at the juncture between the second waveguide section and the third waveguide section, the second wire grid polarizer being transparent to electromagnetic signals having the second polarization and reflective of electromagnetic signals having the first polarization;
• wherein the third waveguide section is configured to transmit and/or receive electromagnetic signals having the first polarization and/or the second polarization.

A method of separating or combining a first electromagnetic signal having a first polarization and a second electromagnetic signal having a second polarization, the method comprising:

• (a) forming a full band waveguide orthomode transducer (OMT) by:
• (i) providing a first waveguide section extending from a first waveguide port to a first interior end, a second waveguide section extending from a second waveguide port to a second interior end, and a third waveguide section extending from a third waveguide port to a third interior end joined at a first juncture to the first interior end of the first waveguide section so as to be substantially collinear therewith, wherein the second interior end of the second waveguide section is joined to the third waveguide section at a second juncture so as to be substantially perpendicular to the first and third waveguide sections;
• and
• (ii) providing (1) a first wire grid polarizer in the first interior end of the first waveguide section so as to be co-extensive therewith, the first wire grid polarizer being transparent to the first electromagnetic signal and reflective of the second electromagnetic signal, and (2) a second wire grid polarizer in the second interior end of the second waveguide section so as to be co-extensive therewith, the second wire grid polarizer being located at the second juncture, the second wire grid polarizer being transparent to the second electromagnetic signal and reflective of the second electromagnetic signal;
• and
• (b) transmitting and/or receiving in the third waveguide section at least one of the first and second electromagnetic signals.