Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor

Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor

Glenn Elmore
Corridor Systems Inc.
www.corridor.biz
Abstract
An overlooked solution to the Maxwell-Heaviside equations supports the existence of a
propagating TM surface wave on coaxial cable as well as on a completely unshielded
single conductor. This non-radiating surface wave mode exhibits attenuation much lower
than coax and a relative propagation velocity of unity. It is very broadband and has
practical applications from RF through microwave frequencies and beyond. This article
introduces this mode, measurements and describes applications. In particular, this
article describes the use of the new mode with conventional overhead power lines as a 3
rd
pipe and solution to the last mile problem.
Background & History
Conventional Model of Coaxial Line
Coaxial cable is perhaps the most commonly used transmission line type for RF &
microwave measurements and applications. In 1894 Heaviside, Tesla and others received
patents for coaxial line and related structures. A development of coax (coaxial line) theory
is often provided as part of basic physics and engineering education
1
, even prior to full
development and use of the Maxwell-Heaviside equations, which are generally used for
transmission line and macroscopic electromagnetic analysis. Accordingly, the analysis,
measurement and application of coax is usually considered to be quite mature and
complete.
07/27/09 1
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
Introductory descriptions of coax often proceed along the lines of Illustration 1. Here
lossless cylindrical central and outer shielding conductors are separated by a volume of
empty space. This structure is examined as a means for conveying power between two
points. One end is considered an input port and driven with a sinusoidal voltage source
V
s
=Asin(ot )
(1)
of magnitude A at frequency o .
This source is applied to the line through a known impedance,
Z
S .
The other end of the
line is terminated by a load of impedance
Z
L
.
07/27/09 2
Illustration 1: Coaxial transmission line used to
deliver source power to a load.
a
b
Perfect
Conductor
Vacuum
dielectric
Illustration 2: Schematic model of a transmission
line from the Telegraphers' Equation
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
Heaviside's telegraphers' equation provides a lumped circuit equivalent of an
infinitesimal length of transmission line, shown in Illustration 2. For the lossless case
where R=G=0 Ampere's law can be used to find the inductance per unit length
L
l
=
j
2n
ln(
b
a
) (2)
and Gauss's law to find the capacitance per unit length
C
l
=
q
V l
=
2nc
ln(
b
a
)
(3)
this describes a line with an entirely real characteristic impedance
2

of
Z=
.
L
l
C
l
ohms (4)
which is dependent only on the geometry of the conductors (
b
a
) .
Maximum transfer of power between source and load occurs when all of these impedances
are equal and
Z=Z
S
=Z
L
(5)
Current entering the line central conductor produces a real current density,
J
. By
Ampre's circuital law, this current density produces an orthogonal magnetic flux density
B
field (in vector form)
B=jJ (6)
in the region of empty space inside the outer conductor. An equal magnitude but opposite
sense current density,
J
returning from the outer shield also contributes to magnetic
flux within this region. Beyond this region the magnetic effects exactly cancel and no
fields due to the currents are present. This cancellation provides the shielding nature of
coax.
Between the conductors the varying
B
field produces an electric field
E=

t
B (7)
Electric field lines extend between the conductors and are normal to their surfaces. These
electric and magnetic fields produce a transverse electric-magnetic wave traveling along
the line in the space between the two conductors. In ideal coax this wave travels in the
vacuum dielectric without attenuation and with velocity the same as that of light in a
vacuum.
07/27/09 3
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
Waves propagating on transmission lines can be described in terms of the axes of the
electric and magnetic fields and a mode number. One or both of the electric and magnetic
fields must be transverse to the direction of propagation. The corresponding modes are
TE, for transverse electric field, TM for transverse magnetic field and TEM when both
field types are transverse. A pair of mode numbers, n and m, can be associated with these
which represent the order of the mode in the transverse and longitudinal directions,
respectively. Values of zero for each of these describe a principal mode in the
corresponding direction.
For a coax line of infinite length and for wavelengths large compared to the inner
circumference of the outer conductor
\2nb
(8)
there is radial symmetry and the coaxial line exhibits a principle
TEM
00
propagation
mode. The impedance presented to the source by the line can be written as,
Z
T E M
=
1
2n.
j
c
ln (
b
a
) 60 ln(
b
a
)
(9)
where
j4nx 10
7
Henry/meter 1.2566jH/meter, permeability of a vacuum
c=
1
c
2
j
Farad/meter 8.8542 pF per meter, permittivity of a vacuum
For the matched condition described the voltage produced by the wave at a position
separated from the source by distance,
l
, along the line can be described as
V=
A
2
sin(ot ) e
l
(10)
where
=o+j
is the propagation constant.
o
describes the attenuation while

describes the phase,
per unit length of line. The propagation constant for the principle mode can be shown to
relate to the components in Illustration 2 by
o+j =.( R+j oL)(G+j oC)
(11)
which for the lossless case is purely imaginary and the same as that of the enclosed
medium
3
.
Practical cables require dielectric supports and use imperfect conductors which
07/27/09 4
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
complicate the model but more than a century of use has validated this basic
understanding of coaxial line and its application to the solution of real world problems.
For most applications from RF through upper microwaves, conveniently dimensioned
coaxial cable has proven to be an excellent device for transferring electromagnetic energy
between different locations without significant radiation; effectively shielding the
internal wave from external components and circuitry.
The Propagating TM Wave in Coax
A homogeneous plane wave in an isotropic medium has an intrinsic impedance
4
Z=
.
oj
oc+i c
(12)
in free space where
c=0
this reduces to
Z=jc =
.
j
c
120n ohms
(13)
In coax, as the geometry
b
a
increases, the impedance of the
TEM
00
mode increases
logarithmically and the real current density, J, tends toward zero. Equating (2) and (3)
shows that the impedance of the
TEM
00
mode in coax equals that of free space when
ln (
b
a
)=2n (
b
a
)535
(14)
However, energy may not propagate faster than the speed of light in a vacuum.
c=
1
.jc
=
Z
j
(15)
Just as for a planar wave in free space, energy propagating through a lossless coaxial
transmission line having vacuum dielectric and no magnetic materials is subject to this
constraint. The impedance associated with the propagating energy in a transmission line
is bounded by the permeability and permittivity of space. Energy may propagate
simultaneously by way of a hybrid of multiple modes but the combined impedances and
the combined admittances of the propagating modes are bounded such that for the total
propagating wave
Z
total
=
1
Y
total

.
j
c
(16)
07/27/09 5
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
For a line with dimension meeting (8), due to symmetry, only modes with a transverse
magnetic component, either TEM or TM, are possible since any asymmetric modes that
would produce a longitudinal magnetic component will be immediately damped out
5
. Only
TEM
0m
or
TM
0m
modes can propagate. Additionally, for perfect conductors only the
principal modes are supported
6
.
Therefore only
TEM
00
or
TM
00
are possible. In coax of
this type the combined admittances of these must be bounded such that
Y
total
=Y
TEM
00
+Y
TM
00

.
c
j
2.65 x10
3
mho
(17)
The admittance due to the
TEM
00
mode
Y
TEM
00
=
1
Z
TEM
00
=
2n
.
c
j
ln (
b
a
)
(18)
is positive, finite and continuous over the range
1(
b
a
) (19)
So at least for the case where
ln (
b
a
)>2n
A propagating
TM
00
mode must also exist and provide a finite admittance
.
c
j
Y
TM
00
(20)
All propagating modes are solutions to the wave equation which results from Maxwell's
equations and satisfy the requirements for continuity of fields at the conductor-vacuum
boundary. Combinations of Bessel functions are used to describe the fields and
impedances associated with these solutions. These functions and their first derivatives
have singularities only at zero and infinity and are continuous in between. Therefore, the
fields and waves they describe also are without discontinuities over the intermediate
region.
As a result, contrary to longstanding belief to the contrary, in coax there exist
simultaneous propagating
TEM
00
and
TM
00
modes over the entire range of geometries
1>(
b
a
)> (21)
07/27/09 6
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
The Propagating TM Wave as a Surface Wave on a Single Conductor
The TM wave on a single conductor embedded in a dielectric medium, can be viewed as a
surface wave along the inner conductor of a coax line having infinite geometry. In this
view, for finite
V
s
, real current density vanishes:
J
r
0 as (
b
a
) (22)
However from the Maxwell-Heaviside equations, the total magnetic field is due to both
real current
J
r
involving moving charges and to displacement current due to the time
rate of change of the electric field
E
t
,
B=jJ
r
+j
D
t
=j J
r
+jc
E
t
(23)
As the geometry of coax increases without bound, the component of the magnetic field due
to the longitudinal component of the displacement current increases at the same time
that the component due to real current decreases.
(
b
a
),Y
TEM
0
and
Y
total
Y
TM
=
.
c
j
2.65 x10
3
mho
(24)
In the limit, the amount of real current in the outer conductor falls to zero and the total
admittance is due entirely to displacement current which produces a single principal
TM
00
mode with the same impedance as a wave in free space.
For intermediate geometries, the total admittance is due to contributions from each
mode. The outer conductor provides a path for real return current which increases the
total admittance. This increase in admittance reduces the potential on the line and
causes an associated reduction of longitudinal displacement current and a corresponding
decrease in the portion of the total power propagated via the TM mode.
Thus, conventional coax cable always propagates power by a hybrid of a principal TEM
mode and a principal TM mode over the entire range of coax geometries. Both of these
07/27/09 7
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
modes have the same propagation velocity which is determined by the relative
permittivity of the enclosed dielectric. For the case of perfect conductivity and vacuum
dielectric both waves travel without attenuation at the speed of light.
History
The existence, practicality and impact of the surface wave TM mode seems to have been
generally overlooked. This is perhaps not so surprising in view of the small effect it has on
propagation in coax of convenient geometry and common impedance, as previously
described. Sommerfeld investigated surface waves
7

as did Zenneck
8

,
particularly involving
lossy conductors as part of better understanding beyond-the-horizon radio propagation
during the early 1900's. Solutions for the wave around a perfectly conducting center
cylinder embedded in a dielectric were presented by Stratton in 1941. There it was found
that only a single modal low-attenuation solution describing a
TM
00
wave having the
same propagation constant as that of the enclosing dielectric exists
9
. Solutions for coax
were also investigated but only the single principle
TEM
00
mode was described as being
consequential for line dimensions that are common in communications practice
10
. In the
coaxial solutions nly a single principle
TEM
00
mode was considered.
More recent characterization of precision coaxial line standards in slightly lossy line for
use in vector network analysis with a reference impedance of 50 ohms also found the
effect of the
TM
00
mode to be small. However, in calculating it's effect on line impedance,
the H-Field and wave admittance associated only with the radial component of the
electric field were included
11
. Apparently this was due to an a priori assumption that no
propagating TM mode, or at least no significant mode, exists in coax and any longitudinal
component of the E field would be only evanescent or so small that it could be neglected.
Perhaps most surprising is that during the 1950's the initial practical application of
surface wave transmission involving only a single conductor and applications of that same
work since have not uncovered the existence and usefulness of this TM mode. The seminal
application of surface wave propagation over a single conductor was presented by
Goubau
12
. This application, called G-Line, provided methods to build a practical
transmission system by using special conductor surface conditioning or a surrounding
dielectric material along with special launchers to convert from coax or waveguide modes
to a surface wave mode on the line. In spite of the prior work by Sommerfeld and
Stratton, as part of patenting
13
this system Goubau posited that a reduction of the wave
velocity on the conductor was required, both to prevent radiation and to allow a launcher
of convenient size. Adaptations of his work, including recent variations
14
, have continued
along these same lines of thought and this opinion seems to have persisted until the
present day.
07/27/09 8
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
Implementation of Practical Single Conductor Lines
Single Conductor Application of the TM Wave
Since this article is intended as an introduction to the usefulness of the TM mode rather
than as a complete solution to the general case of hybrid propagation of the TEM and TM
modes with lossy conductors and imperfect dielectrics in coax, it will now turn toward
providing some insight into practical non-coaxial application of the TM mode in real
world situations.
As it is necessary to couple to and from the mode in order to access it and take advantage
of it in conjunction with other traditional transmission lines such as coax and waveguide,
developing a visualization of the associated electric field at this point seems useful.
E-field direction
The solution to the wave equation for the propagating TM mode produces a non-zero
longitudinal component of the E-field. This is in contrast to the solution for the TEM
mode in coax which produces only a transverse E-field.
Whereas the TEM mode is excited by real current, the TM wave is excited by the
displacement current. The potential on the central conductor increases as line impedance
increases. As these increase, the magnitude of the E-field increases as well. However, a
nearby conductor other than the line itself may provide a termination point and thereby
reduce energy coupled into the TM wave. This is the case with the shield of conventional
coaxial cable of common geometry. The proximity of a shield reduces the TEM impedance,
provides a return path for E-field lines, increases real current, reduces displacement
current and correspondingly reduces the power coupled into the TM wave. The result is
that as the geometry is reduced, propagation in coaxial cable rapidly becomes dominated
by the TEM mode to the exclusion of the TM mode. When the geometry has reached 50
ohms in ideal coax,
b
a
2.3
(Illustration 1) the TM mode has been almost entirely
suppressed. To examine the mode it is necessary to consider a central conductor apart
from nearby shielding or conductors which can suppress it.
07/27/09 9
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
Illustration 3 shows a plot of electric field generated from a numeric solution of Maxwell's
equations performed by a 3D E-M solver (HFSS). The model is of a thin, perfectly
conducting circular disk, on the left, having a central hole through which passes a
perfectly conducting wire that extends continuously from left to right. The short region
inside this hole is equivalent to a section of ideal coax and excitation of this port is
configured to be coaxial at this location. The rest of the region in the illustration is
vacuum wherein the short lines indicate the direction of the E-field that result when the
port is driven by a sinusoidal signal through a port impedance equivalent to that of the
TEM mode at the coaxial input at the plane of the disk.
It is important to recognize that because the TM mode has not previously been known to
existent, computer analysis tools may make assumptions about the conditions at the port
of a model. Even though in the analysis itself, a full numerical solution of Maxwell's
equations may be performed, the port excitation for the model does not necessarily
include this. For the model and plot shown above, the analysis was performed with the
assumption that conditions to the left of the launcher port, that region inside the
modeler, is a TEM extension of the port. No longitudinal E-field component is present
there and as such it only models excitation from a TEM source. Because a TM wave
actually does exist this causes some error. However, in this example the port geometry
has been chosen to provide a relatively low impedance, in the vicinity of 50 ohms, and the
TM contribution to the propagating wave is so small that the error is negligible.
This same problem exists with conventional scalar and vector network measurement and
analysis of coaxial systems in general. All commercial systems of which the author is
aware presently make the implicit assumption that in coax only a TEM wave exists. For
fifty ohm systems this assumption has been, and continues to be, almost entirely
07/27/09 10
Illustration 3: E-field directions in vicinity of a perfect conductor and a planar launcher
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
adequate with the possible exception of characterization of precision coaxial calibration
standards for vector network analysis, as previously cited. The TM mode is so well
suppressed that for almost all practical measurements and applications the errors due to
this assumption are of no consequence.
The conductive planar disk with the coaxial port, on the left in Illustration 3, is called a
launcher and serves to couple energy from the coaxial stimulus into the TM wave
propagating along the central conductor.
From the plot it can be seen that close to the excitation port, the E-fields extend from the
central conductor to the launcher and are normal to the surfaces of each conductor
immediately adjacent to the conductor. Perfect conductivity forces tangential components
of the electric field to be zero and only a field component at right angle to the conductor
surface is possible. In this region near the port, real current flows in the plane and
returns by way of the outer conductor of the input coax port. Further to the right, away
from the launcher, close examination of the illustration will reveal that E-field lines
terminate along the conductor. Here also they leave the conductor normal to it's surface
but curve in the enclosing (vacuum) dielectric and return at a different location along the
same conductor, up to one half wavelength away. In this region the resulting wave is TM.
In essence, the launcher serves as a transition between the predominantly TEM mode in
the coax and the predominantly TM mode on the conductor in the region far from the
launcher.
The field solution to the wave equation for coax shows that the peak magnitude for the
longitudinal E-field is displaced from the peak magnitude for the radial field by one
quarter wavelength. The peak longitudinal fields occur at the locations of voltage minima
on the central conductor. The phase of the excitation in Illustration 3 has placed the
voltage maximum at or near the input port. Careful examination of the field lines will
show that the first clearly discernible maximum of the longitudinal E-fields occurs
slightly to the left of the center of the central conductor and approximately three quarter
wavelengths away from the maximum occurring near the excitation port. The first
longitudinal maximum occurs one quarter wavelength from the port but is difficult to
discern because of the other field lines returning to the launcher.
07/27/09 11
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
E-field magnitude
Although Illustration 3 gives insight into E-field direction, it gives almost no information
about E-field amplitude or even relative magnitude. To help provide this, contours of
constant E-field magnitude for a different modeled two-port system are shown in
Illustration 4. These lines are contours of constant magnitude so Illustrations 3 and 4
must be taken together in order to visualize the complete E-Field vectors, which contain
both amplitude and direction information. The launchers in this illustration are 100 mm
square rather than round and the central conductor is 400 mm long, also square but
tapered from 4 mm at each end to .04 mm at the center. The stimulus frequency is 1875
MHz where the structure is 2.5 wavelengths long.
It is noteworthy that the radial extent of the E-field is dependent only on line impedance
and not on conductor diameter or wavelength. Because displacement current is constant,
conductor diameter affects the E-field magnitude at the surface of the conductor but not
the contour it follows in the surrounding dielectric medium.
Contrary to previous belief in regard to surface waves on G-Line, a launcher need not be
large. Because most of the E-field is quite close to the conductor, both in the TEM region
and in the TM region, the majority of the terminating field lines and current also occur
quite close to the conductor surface. The field solutions show that the magnitude of the
radial component follows a
1
r
curve and that the majority of the propagated energy is
within a few conductor diameters of the center axis.
Longitudinally the E-field is dependent on wavelength since each field line must have a
termination point, which can be up to one half wavelength away. Therefore the conductor
must be at least a half wavelength long in order to support the TM mode.
07/27/09 12
Illustration 4: Contours of constant E-field magnitude
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
The line impedance in the vicinity of the launcher is lower than that of the the line in free
space. This is because field lines producing real current in the coaxial (TEM) region are
present along with the lines terminating on the conductor in the TM mode.
Illustration 5 shows a VNA time domain measurement of a simple system constructed
with a pair of circular brass planar launchers 68 mm in diameter and spaced 680 mm.
The conductor is cylindrical, made of .5 mm diameter bare copper conductor (burnished
#24 copper wire) and connected between the center pins of SMA connectors each mounted
at the center of one of the launchers. The left Y axis has labels for the equivalent line
impedance, as calculated from the real part of the reflection coefficient plotted over a
range from 0 to 1 when the system reference impedance is fifty ohms.
Within approximately the first centimeter from the excitation port, approximately 20 wire
diameters, the impedance rises very rapidly from the initial 50 ohm value at the SMA
connector. Beyond that it rises much more slowly and asymptotically approaches the free
space value of 377 ohms. The value of the reflection coefficient at the marker corresponds
to a line impedance of about 366 ohms. The discontinuity at 4.5 ns is at the location of the
second SMA connector.
Practical Launchers
A practical launcher should provide the transition from
TEM
00
to
TM
00
waves as
07/27/09 13
Illustration 5: Time domain measurement of impedance of 680 mm length of TM line
stretched between two 68 mm diameter planar launchers.
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
effectively as possible. Generally this transition is between different impedances as well
as between different modes.
Any launcher represents a discontinuity to the propagating waves. This discontinuity
may produce radiation away from the region. In the TM portion of a system such as is
shown in Illustrations 4 and 5, there is complete symmetry of E-field; every field line is
one of a pair of lines of equal magnitude but opposite sign. This symmetry is present both
axially and longitudinally. Therefore at distances of more than a few wavelengths, these
fields add to zero and no net field and no radiation results. However, for the region near a
launcher, there is no longer longitudinal symmetry and incomplete cancellation of fields
may result at large distances. This produces radiation away from the launcher with the
radiated wave linearly polarized parallel to the conductor.
Illustration 6 shows a frequency domain measurement of the same system with planar
launchers that was measured in Illustration 5. The lower trace is of
S
21
which displays
the ripple or beat between the discontinuities produced by the launchers at each end of
the line. In addition to the ripple there is a large amount of mismatch loss between the 50
ohm impedance of the VNA and the impedance presented by the TM system at each port.
The upper trace is a calculation of
GA
max
15
which effectively removes the extra
attenuation due to port mismatch and allows just the ohmic and radiation losses to be
evaluated. In addition to attenuation due to ohmic losses in the copper conductor,
approximately 2 dB loss is apparent near 1 GHz. This is almost entirely radiation loss
due to the discontinuities at the launchers and occurs over the entire measurement
range. Because of the large standing waves present on the line due to mismatch, the
radiation loss is greater than it would be for the situation of a perfectly impedance-
matched launcher.
07/27/09 14
Illustration 6: Measured S
21
and GA
max
for the two port TM system of Illustration 5
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
While a planar launcher of the type shown in these illustration is useful for analysis, even
with impedance matching added at the ports, it is not generally the best design for
minimum system attenuation. The modal discontinuities of this type of launcher
generally produces both unwanted radiation and reflection.
Measurement of a system with somewhat better launchers is shown in Illustration 7.
These are also 68 mm in diameter but of the forward conical horn rather than the planar
type. These were fabricated from a section of a circular brass disk folded and soldered so
as to create a ninety degree cone. An SMA bulkhead connector was soldered to the
narrow end of the cone and the same type and length of bare copper conductor used for
Illustrations 6 and 7 was soldered to the center pin of the connector. Two measurements
of
GA
max
are shown; these are with and without a small polyethylene dielectric
compensator added to help reduce the discontinuity and consequent reflection and
radiation. The compensator was fabricated from an approximately 30 mm long section of
polyethylene dielectric removed from conventional RG/8 coaxial cable and placed a few
mm away from the SMA connector. Material was removed so as to taper the diameter of
the compensator linearly from the wire diameter at each end to a maximum diameter of
about 8 mm at its middle. As can be seen by the measurement, this small amount of
compensation is only sufficient to make significant improvement above about 5 GHz
where the compensator is one half wavelength long.
07/27/09 15
Illustration 7: GA
max
of Forward horn launchers from measurement on 680 mm line,
with and without compensation.
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
Illustration 8 shows a measurement of GAmax for the same type of compensated launcher
but the line length has been increased to 3.4 meters. Additionally a measurement of an
equal length of .085 Teflon dielectric semi-rigid coax has been included. The coax center
conductor is of about the same diameter as the conductor of the TM line but is silver
plated. In spite of the better conductivity of the coax and the radiation due to the
launchers, the lower attenuation of the TM wave system is obvious. A better launcher
design can provide even more contrast between the attenuations of the TEM and TM
modes. Even with only crude techniques, it is not difficul to reduce total loss for a single
launcher to less than .25 dB. These and other launcher possibilities and designs have
been described elsewhere
16
. Because the displacement current in TM line is much less
than the real current in conventional coax, impedance is higher and the ohmic losses in
TM line are dramatically less than for coax. The smaller slope of the TM attenuation
versus frequency gives an indication of this superior TM performance.
07/27/09 16
Illustration 8: 140 MHz - 20 GHz measurement of 3.4 meter lengths of .085" Teflon
dielectric semi-rigid coax (TEM) and #24 bare copper (TM) mode line.
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
Broadband
The broadband nature of this transmission system is obvious from these measurements.
With even relatively simple launchers it is possible to achieve three or more decades of
low-attenuation performance. The lower frequency limit is primarily determined by the
diameter of the launcher and by the ability to effectively match to the line impedance.
The launcher acts as a sort of capacitor to space in that it provides a return path for
displacement current. As the launcher gets very small, the reactance of this capacitor
increases and gets large compared to load presented by the line-plus-launcher. This
higher Q makes broadband impedance matching more difficult. However a 60 cm
diameter planar launcher has proven quite usable to below 20 MHz.
The upper frequency limit is affected mainly by the detail of the transition from the coax
connector to the line itself. The same 60 cm diameter planar launcher described above
easily provides good performance from 20 MHz to 20 GHz, which is the upper limit of the
HP8720 VNA used for this measurement. It is very probable that performance was
excellent well beyond this.
As the line diameter becomes large compared to a wavelength more care needs to be
taken to assure that unwanted discontinuities and resultant radiation do not occur.
However it is possible to support the TM mode on lines that are large compared to a
wavelength. Work between 30 GHz and 500 GHz indicates that the mode is useful at least
that high
17
using conductors having circumferences which are large compared to a
wavelength.
07/27/09 17
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
Practical Applications
Overhead Power Lines
An obvious and very promising class of applications of this transmission mode is in use of
existing overhead electric power lines for last-mile information services. The low
attenuation and broadband nature of the mode operating on preexisting infrastructure
can provide a basis for very low cost information transmission in much of the populated
world. Because the underlying hardware, rights-of-way, support and maintenance for
power grids are already in place, the addition of high capacity information transport can
be quite inexpensive, particularly when compared to other candidate transmission
methods such as DSL, CATV, fixed or mobile wireless systems or fiber optic cable.
The previous practical examples and measurements of TM structures used relatively
small conductor diameters. Common power distribution and transmission line conductors
range in diameter from about 4 mm up to 25 mm or even 50 mm. Modern power
conductors are often constructed by winding multiple bare aluminum or copper wires
around a central steel carrier wire which produces a multi-strand cable with extra
strength and resistance to stretching. Two or more of these cables are then placed under
tension and supported by separate insulators mounted on periodic supports in order to
form multi-span segments of overhead power line. In much of the world these supports
are wooden power poles and may be 10-20 m tall and spaced 30-100 m. It's not
uncommon for a single system of poles to provide support for multiple sets of lines, with
higher voltage distribution line near the tops of the poles, possibly in conjunction with a
step-down transformer, and a second set of supports lower down for lower voltage lines
that provide delivery to residential or business end-use sites located adjacent to the line.
These lines are prevalent in much of the inhabited world, are located in areas associated
with human activity, have systems in place to ensure that they are kept operating and
maintained, and as such they are good candidates for last-mile information delivery
systems. Because of the capability for very large bandwidth and low attenuation of the
TM mode it's useful to examine the characteristics of practical TM mode power line
systems. RF and microwave transmission systems using the TM mode that utilize
overhead power transmission, distribution or delivery infrastructure have been dubbed
E-Line.
07/27/09 18
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
An example of a special slotted launcher
18

adapted to mount on an existing power
conductor is shown in Illustration 9. This launcher has a special tri-axial adapter section
included to allow coupling between coaxial line and the surface wave mode propagating
along the aluminum power conductor. The slotted design allows the entire assembly to be
placed on the line without requiring any modification of the line conductor. The coaxial
port is connected to bi-directional amplifiers, which are solar-powered in this example,
located behind the launcher and directly above a mechanical clamp which attaches the
entire assembly to the power line conductor. The launcher in this photograph does not
include any dielectric compensation to improve the impedance and mode match between
the coaxial and TM modes.
07/27/09 19
Illustration 9: A slotted E-Line launcher mounted to an aluminum
power line conductor.
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
A measurement of
S
21
and
S
21
for a pair of launchers of the type shown in Illustration
8 mounted on approximately 18 meters of #4 stranded copper power conductor is shown in
Illustration 10. The bandpass nature of the tri-axial coupler is made evident by the
transmission response centered at approximately 2 GHz. A second incidental response
which is attenuated considerably exists at about 500 MHz. The impedance match of this
second response is very poor and results in a great deal of mismatch loss. The degree of
this mismatch can be appreciated by comparing the
GA
max
measurements to the
S
21

response. At 1900 MHz, of the 7 dB total system insertion loss shown about 3 dB is due to
port mismatch. Approximately another 3 dB is due to radiation loss from modal
discontinuities of the uncompensated launchers and the remaining 1 dB loss is due to
ohmic losses in the 18 m length of copper conductor.
While these particular launchers are not ideal, their measurement is useful to develop an
appreciation of system characteristics. Of course, in power line transmission and
distribution systems, other factors contribute to attenuation, reflection and radiation.
07/27/09 20
Illustration 10: Measurement of GA
max
and S
21
on 18 meters of 4 mm stranded
copper power line conductor used in conjunction with the uncompensated launcher
shown in Illustration 8.
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
Table 1 lists some common impairment factors and their characteristics at 2 and 5 GHz.
Insulators normally account for no more than a few dB additional attenuation. Tap lines
which connect to a conductor and lead directly away from the line, such as those at a step-
down transformer, interrupt the field lines in only one plane and usually cause about 3
dB of extra attenuation. In general, impairments located close to the surface of the
conductor tend to have more influence than those even slightly removed. This is to be
expected since this is the location of the largest fields. The effects of line bends generally
depend a lot on the detail of the conductor and insulator close to the bend itself. A small
radius bend is more influential than a slower bend having a larger minimum radius of
curvature. Normal line sag has no measurable effect. Most of these impairments have a
relatively uniform effect versus frequency and as a result produce rather low group delay
perturbation of the transmitted wave.
Because the effects of impairments are generally stable and well-behaved, high Q
resonances, sharp frequency domain notches and similar effects are relatively uncommon.
As for other types of transmission lines it is possible to configure special structures in a
way to create frequency dependent filtering from sections of TM mode line but these
kinds of responses aren't common on typical overhead power line installations.
To use overhead power lines for transport of RF and microwave information-bearing
signals, a link budget analysis can be made in much the same way as for other wired or
wireless systems. To examine the capabilities of E-Line, it is useful to compare the
underlying ability to transport signals with other methods, in terms of spectral
07/27/09 21
Impairment Type 2 GHz 5 GHz Notes: Standard 7 strand 4ACSR conductor
Line Attenuation 2.2 dB 2.5 dB Ohmic attenuation per 100'
Saddle Insulators 5 dB 6 dB Approx. 1 dB variation depending upon tail on end of tie
Splices .5-5 dB 1-5 dB
Finger trap style, larger (step) diameter slightly worse. Quite flat
with frequency
Tap Line 3 dB
Function of connection hardware, in particular first with1 from
line. Quite flat with frequency.
Rain - Too small to measure on 1100' run.
Sag - No measurable variation for any practical tension
Bends 0- 20 dB Saddle insulator Loss , dB=0.0192o
2
+0.017o, for 0o25
Birds small Single bird, very large flock may approach -6 dB
Table 1: Impact of impairments common to overhead power lines
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
bandwidth, attenuation and distance.
07/27/09 22
Illustration 11: Maximum information capacities within 100 MHz bandwidth for E-Line
compared with other last-mile transport methods.
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
Transmission
Method
Spectral BW,
(Center
Frequency)
Signal
Power dBm
(mW)
Noise
dBm
or Noise
Figure (dB)
Attenuation Notes
HF-BPL
26 MHz
(17 MHz)
- 50 dBm/Hz
(260)
OPERA
19
Center Frequency
limits available
bandwidth
xDSL
100 MHz
(50 MHz)
0
(1)
-120
.3 dB/m @ 100
MHz
Crosstalk limited
Suburban
Wireless
100 MHz
(2 GHz)
0
(1)
(3)
COST231/Hata
propagation model
Antenna #1
1m
2
aperture, 20m
elevation
Antenna #2 dipole, 2m
elevation
Free space
Wireless
100 MHz
(2 GHz)
0
(1)
(3) lossless
CATV
100 MHz
(1 GHz)
0
(1)
(3) Per data sheet Times Wire LMR600
E-Line
100 MHz
(2 GHz)
0
(1)
(3)
Line + Insulator
Attenuation
Typical Installation,
line loss plus effects of
supporting insulator
every 100m
Table 2: Conditions and assumptions used to calculate the information capacities in
Illustration 11
Illustration 11 plots the maximum theoretical information capacity as a function of
distance for several existing last-mile transmission methods along with that for E-Line.
The types compared are
HF-BPL, HF transport using two power line conductors
xDSL, twisted pair copper telephone lines,
Free space wireless, radio with completely line-of-sight propagation,
Suburban wireless, radio within a typical suburban environment,
CATV, low loss distribution coax
E-Line, TM propagating mode on single conductor overhead power lines.
A comparison of this sort is almost impossible to perform fairly or completely accurately.
Each transport medium has its own characteristics, strengths and weaknesses that make
any common benchmark less than perfect. Assumptions necessary for one method are
inappropriate or irrelevant for another. Because of these difficulties, Illustration 11
07/27/09 23
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
should be considered only a qualitative comparison and is provided to give a sense of
relative performance rather than an absolute measure.
This approach calculates information capacity as a function of distance by use of
Shannon's equation
C=B log
2
(
S
N
+1) (25)
where
C = maximum channel information rate in bits/second
B = bandwidth in hertz
S = signal power
N = noise power
For each method, the associated spectrum was subdivided into 100 segments and the
information capacity for each segment was calculated based on distance, segment center
frequency, signal power and noise power. The information capacities of all of these
subsegments were then summed to produce an associated maximum capacity. These
results describe the maximum information rate possible if a perfect encoding and protocol
is used. No allowances or margins for variation have been included. These results are
therefore the upper bound rather than a description of practical systems. Unless noted, a
source power of 0 dBm (1 milliwatt) and information bandwidth of 100 MHz have been
used. Other relevant attributes are as shown in Table 2. Limiting the bandwidth to only
100 MHz considerably understates the capability of E-Line.
In addition to the plots for each of the methods the maximum information capacity
possible in 100 MHz bandwidth with C/N ratio limit of 30 dB is shown. This is an
arbitrary limit but is similar to the minimum required C/N for protocols such as 802.11a,
802.11g, WiMax, LTE and other common communications standards. If greater spectrum
were used, the potential information capacity of E-Line would easily exceed that of every
technology,except optical fiber and free space wireless out to distances of several km.
In order to transport information over very large distances all of these methods require
periodic amplification in order to overcome signal loss, possibly accompanied by
demodulation and remodulation of information. Illustration 11 reveals the maximum
distance allowable between such amplification if a specific information rate is to be
maintained. For E-Line installed on typical distribution lines with pole spacings of 100 m,
amplification every few poles is necessary to maintain the majority of the maximum
possible capacity allowed by the assumptions. Line power levels larger than 1 milliwatt
can allow increased spacing. Practical systems have been built with five to ten amplifiers
per mile of line which have supported more than 2 Gbps information capacity using less
07/27/09 24
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
than 100 MHz information bandwidth. A photograph of a prototype of one of these
amplifying nodes installed on an operating power line is shown in Illustration 12. The
launchers are considerably larger than necessary for many applications but allow
operation from as low as 200 MHz to above 20 GHz.
07/27/09 25
Illustration 12: Photograph of one amplifying node in a prototype system installed on an
existing medium voltage power line
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
Illustration 13 depicts an E-Line system capable of providing both high capacity end-to-
end information transport as well as information distribution for end users near the line.
Simultaneous usage of power poles as sites for nano-cells to provide access for adjacent
users while enabling near line-of-sight (free space) radio paths allows very high user data
rates along with small user antenna aperture and low transmit power. An E-Line
distribution system can easily include both an antenna and active circuitry at selected
poles in order to tailor a coverage footprint along and in the vicinity of the power line
system. In a situation where the communications system is already frequency division
duplex, such as in a mobile telephone system, this can be done with simple bi-directional
amplification and filtering. In this way a single E-Line installation can provide back-haul
(transport), front-haul (distributed antenna feed) and access (distributed antennas) for
end users at 3G and 4G speeds, with an aggregate information capacity of many Gbps.
The relatively low attenuation of E-Line allows simple amplification to suffice at each
amplifying node, rather than requiring demodulation, remodulation and the attendant
delays (latency) produced by these processes. Since all hardware can be located on the
line conductor itself and no pole attach is required the cost of this system is dramatically
07/27/09 26
Illustration 13: E-Line (TM mode) system providing simultaneous transport and
distribution of different information services.
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
less than is the case for alternate technologies and methods. The result is that simple RF
and microwave electronics, periodically included with pairs of launchers placed along a
power line, can simultaneously provide and maintain both transport and distribution of
high rate information services and content. Since the system follows the electric
distribution grid, it can also be used to simultaneously provide Smart Grid
communications with end-use locations for real time power management and billing.
Feed Line for High Altitude Antennas
The extreme simplicity and relatively small dimensions of a low attenuation and high
bandwidth TM mode system make use as an antenna feed line between ground-located
communications equipment and high altitude antennas attractive. For many practical
terrestrial communications systems, coverage is severely limited by the presence of hills,
buildings, foliage and other similar obstructions which are relatively close to the earth.
The impact of these impairments can be appreciated by comparing the free space
attenuation with that of the suburban environment attenuation of radio signals shown in
Illustration 11. Forty to sixty dB of excess attenuation is commonplace for many practical
and desirable path lengths. However, by locating at least one antenna well above the
impairments, the total radio path loss rapidly falls and allows much higher carrier/noise
ratios, performance and coverage. TM mode transmission line can be used to connect
heavy ground-located equipment with high-altitude antennas.
To illustrate this application, a lightweight bi-conical antenna was fabricated and
integrated with a small forward-horn type launcher. A small helium-filled balloon was
used to lift the antenna and the entire assembly was tethered by means of small gauge
copper wire which doubled as a lightweight TM feed line for the antenna.
07/27/09 27
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
Illustration 14 is a photograph of the antenna with integrated TM launcher and
supporting balloon.
To measure the improvement, the balloon was first allowed to support the antenna at
about 2 meters above ground and a reference measurement of a distant commercial100
MHz FM broadcast signal was made. The transmitting antenna for this signal was
approximately 150 km away and there was considerable intervening obstruction. As a
result, the signal was at or near FM threshold and could not be fully demodulated by a
standard FM stereo receiver. The copper wire tether was then allowed to play out and the
balloon rose to approximately 60 meters. At that elevation, the antenna was well above
local foliage and clutter. The received signal amplitude rose by more than 30 dB. As the
feed line and antenna were passive structures, Lorentz reciprocity theorem applies and
this antenna and feed line system could be expected to provide the same improvement at
the distant location if the balloon supported antenna were used for transmitting rather
than for receiving.
Although balloon and kite lifted antennas have been in use for about a century, the
lightweight and low cross-sectional area of suitable TM line conductor allows the antenna
07/27/09 28
Illustration 14: "Featherweight" bi-conical antenna, integrated TM mode launcher and
supporting balloon tethered by feed line.
Introduction to the Propagating Wave on a Single Conductor
feed point to be located at high altitude rather than at ground level, as was the case for
previous aerially supported antennas which were generally end-fed. Thus, existing heavy
communications equipment can remain ground-mounted but be easily used with
temporary lightweight antennas located at very considerable elevation and the
communications range and quality of common communications systems greatly increased.
An application of this sort might have particular value for emergency communications as
well as in situations where temporary wide area communications is required, such as on a
battlefield. In addition, because the attenuation of the
TM
00
mode is quite low, RF or
microwave energy can be transmitted up to the elevated assembly and rectified to provide
DC power for active electronics, signage or even for the lifting device itself. It should be
possible, for example, to power an electric helicopter which supports the line and antenna
which is simultaneously being used for communications purposes.
Summary
This article has described a previously unknown propagating
TM
00
surface wave mode
which exists on a single unshielded conductor. Practical transmission lines utilizing this
mode were not previously known to be possible. Descriptions of the associated fields and
launchers useful for converting between this mode and conventional transmission lines
have been provided and the broadband and low-loss nature of this mode has been
illustrated through measurements of simple, practical systems. Some applications of this
mode, including the use of the existing worldwide grid of overhead power lines for high
rate last-mile information transport have been detailed.
In particular, this discovery allows very inexpensive implementation of wide area
information services utilizing the pre-existing worldwide power distribution grid. Simple
and inexpensive hardware can be installed on a single conductor of these ubiquitous lines
and used to create a high capacity 3
rd
Pipe for information distribution. The location
and rights-of-way of these existing power systems allow them to be used simultaneously
to provide 3G and 4G user access while they also provides back-haul and other point-point
information transport. Of particular value, this system can easily be applied for use in
Smart-Grid energy systems . The re-use of existing lines, rights-of-way and maintenance
systems allow all of these information services to be deployed and operated at a small
fraction of the cost of any other method.
07/27/09 29
[1] Halliday & Resnick, Physics, Part II, 1962 John Wiley & Sons, ISBN 0 471 34523 7
[2] Schelkunoff, Bell System Tech. J., 17, January 1938
[3] Julius Adams Stratton, Electromagnetic Theory, 1941, reprint by IEEE press Series on
Electromagnetic Wave Theory, John Wiley & Sons Inc. ISBN-13 978-0-470-13153-4
[4] Schelkunoff, op. cit. p. 24
[5] Julius Adams Stratton, op. cit. p. 546
[6] Julius Adams Stratton, op. cit. f. 530
[7] Julius Adams Stratton, op. cit. p. 529
[8] Zenneck, Ann. Phys. 23 (1907), 846 (referenced from [13] )
[9] Julius Adams Stratton, op. cit. f. 527
[10] Julius Adams Stratton, op. cit. p. 549
[11] William C. Daywitt, First-Order Symmetric Modes for a Slightly Lossy Coaxial
Transmission Line IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, vol. 38,
no. 11. November 1990
[12] G. Goubau, Surface waves and their applications to transmission lines, J. Appl. Phys.,
vol. 21, p. 1119, 1950.
[13] G. Goubau, U S Patent 2685068, July 27 1954
[14] M. Friedman and Richard Fernsler, Low-Loss RF Transport Over Long Distances,
IEEE Transaction on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol 49, No. 2, February 2001
[15] Agilent Technologies, S-Parameter Design, Application Note AN 154,
[16] Glenn Elmore, US Patent 7567154, July 28 2009
[17] Kanglin Wang and Daniel M. Mittleman, Dispersion of Surface Plasmon Polaritons
on Metal Wires in the TeraHertz Frequency Range, Physical Review Letters, PRL 96,
157401, 21 APRIL 2006 , The American Physical Society
[18] Elmore, Glenn E , Method and apparatus for launching a surfacewave onto a single
conductor transmission line using a slohed [sic] flared cone, US Patent 7,009,471
[19] Open PLC European Research Alliance, Document OP_WP1_D5_v0.9.doc,