Decimetric, centimetric, and millimetric waves are terms used in the field of radio frequency (RF) and microwave engineering to categorize waves based on their wavelengths. The main difference between these categories lies in the range of wavelengths they represent.
Decimetric waves have wavelengths in the decimeter range, which corresponds to a wavelength range of 1 to 10 decimeters (10 to 100 centimeters or 0.1 to 1 meter). In terms of frequency, decimetric waves typically fall within the range of 300 MHz to 3 GHz (megahertz to gigahertz).
Centimetric waves have wavelengths in the centimeter range, which corresponds to a wavelength range of 1 to 10 centimeters. In terms of frequency, centimetric waves typically fall within the range of 3 GHz to 30 GHz.
Millimetric waves have wavelengths in the millimeter range, which corresponds to a wavelength range of 1 to 10 millimeters. In terms of frequency, millimetric waves typically fall within the range of 30 GHz to 300 GHz.
In practical applications, the categorization of waves into decimetric, centimetric, or millimetric bands is useful for various purposes, including determining the appropriate technology and equipment to use for communication or measurement systems. Different frequency bands have different characteristics in terms of propagation, interference, and available technologies, so understanding the distinctions between these wave categories is important in RF and microwave engineering.