transverse propagation coefficients of the first TMz mode, the first TEz mode, and the first hybrid mode of order one, can be either real or imaginary. The longitudinal propagation coefficient of the first TMz mode starts at zero frequency and ends at a frequency where it is equal to the wave-number of the surrounding dielectric medium, while the longitudinal propagation coefficient of the first TEz mode starts at this same frequency and tends afterwards to infinity. It is interesting to note that although the first TMz mode is the dominant mode in a metamaterial cylindrical guide, it also possesses a lower cutoff frequency in a dielectric cylindrical guide, so that if it was possible to excite both in this mode, useful coupling effects could be obtained, as in the corresponding case of coupled metamaterial and dielectric slabs [11].
ACKNOWLEDGMENT