Past exam of the physics A course of the University of Cambridge / 2014 / Paper 2 / Section B / B7 / b

At $50\mathrm{kHz}$ modes $n=1,2,3,4$ can propagate. Their positive $k_x$ values are approximately $769.5,719.8,628.3,471.2{\mathrm{m}}^{-1}$. Mode $n=5$ is a nonpropagating mode at waveguide cutoff: $k_x=0$ and $v_g=0$, so it does not carry longitudinal power as a traveling mode. Higher modes are evanescent. The injected transverse profile determines which permitted modes are actually excited.