Topology optimization and experimental verification of compact E-plane waveguide filters

This article presents a numerical method to design compact E-plane waveguide filters. The key feature of the proposed method is that the conducting layout of the filters is automatically determined based on a desired filter characteristic. This extreme level of design freedom is obtained using the numerical optimization technique called topology optimization. The filters are complex in shape but easy to mass-produce with low-cost conventional methods. The method is verified experimentally by measurement of responses similar to the numerical predictions.