Desktop laboratory of bound states in the continuum in metallic waveguide with dielectric cavities

Abstract: We consider dielectric cavities whose radiation space is restricted by two parallel metallic planes. The TM solutions of the Maxwell equations of the system are equivalent to the solutions of periodical arrays of dielectric cavities. The system readily allows to achieve bound states in the continuum (BICs) of any type including topological BICs as dependent on position and orientation of the cavities relative to the planes. That extremely facilitates experimental studies in comparison to infinite arrays of the cavities. We show the effect of merging of topologically protected BICs that pushes the square asymptotic of the $Q$-factor into the power degree 4 or even 6.