Microwave Transmission

Line Model

Dr. H. Rahaman, Associate Professor

Department of Electronics and Communication, BKBIET Pilani
 Objective

 Transmission line model

 Concept of modes.
 Different types of modes
 Features of modes
 Recap

 We discussed on uniform plane waves and equations.

 Different parameters of plane waves – impedance, phase
velocity, phase constant, wavenumber etc.
 Different kind of transmission lines.
 Concept of modes.
 Master/ most generalized equations from Maxwell’s
theory.
 TEM- Modes
TEM mode – No longitudinal field components. It means Ez = Hz = 0

(2)
(1)

All terms in (2) becomes 0, if

longitudinal fields are zero.

𝑗𝛽𝐸𝑦 = 𝑘𝑐2 = 𝑘 2 − 𝛽2
2
−𝑗𝜔𝜇𝐻𝑥 𝛽 𝐸𝑦 =
𝒌𝒄 = 𝒌 𝟐 − 𝜷𝟐 = 𝟎
𝜔2 𝜇𝜖𝐸𝑦
−𝑗𝛽𝐻𝑥 = 𝑗𝜔𝜖𝐸𝑦 Cutoff wave number is zero
⇒ 𝛽 = 𝜔 𝜇𝜖
𝑘 = 𝜔 𝜇𝜖 = 2𝜋/𝜆 ⇒ 𝒌=𝜷 for TEM waves .
Wave number is equal to the phase constant in TEM modes.
Cutoff wave number means any wave above zero wave number will propagate.
 TEM- Modes
𝛻2𝐸 + 𝑘2𝐸 = 0 Helmholtz equation/
𝛻2𝐻 + 𝑘2𝐻 = 0 Wave equation

Helmholtz equation 𝐸 = 𝐸 + 𝑒 −𝑗𝛽𝑧 + 𝐸 − 𝑒 𝑗𝛽𝑧

for Ex component is 𝑥

𝛻 2 𝐸𝑥 + 𝑘 2 𝐸𝑥 = 0 or

𝜕 2 𝐸𝑥 𝜕2 + 𝜕2
= −𝛽 2
𝐸𝑥 = 𝐸 =0
𝜕𝑧 2 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝑥
𝛻𝑡2 𝑒 𝑥, 𝑦 = 0
−𝑘 2 𝐸𝑥 𝜕2 𝜕2
+ 𝐸𝑦 = 0 𝝏𝟐 𝝏𝟐
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜵𝒕𝟐 = +
Similarly for Ey is 𝝏𝒙𝟐 𝝏𝒚𝟐

Laplacian operator in two

transverse direction

Similarly for Hx and Hy is 𝛻𝑡2 ℎ 𝑥, 𝑦 = 0

Transverse electric and magnetic fields of a TEM wave satisfy laplace equation.
 TEM- Laplace solution
𝛻𝑡2 𝑒 𝑥, 𝑦 = 0 In electrostatic, electric field is a
Laplace equation gradient of a scalar potential
𝛻𝑡2 ℎ 𝑥, 𝑦 = 0
𝑒 𝑥, 𝑦 = −𝛻𝑡 𝜑 𝑥, 𝑦

and 𝛻. 𝐷 = 𝜖𝛻𝑡 . 𝑒 = 0 for source free region Laplace equation

Voltage between two conductors

Φ1 and Φ2 represents potential at conductor
1 and conductor 2, respectively.

Current flow in a C is the contour of the conductor.

given conductor
𝛽 = 𝜔 𝜇𝜖

Wave impedance of TEM mode

is the ratio of transverse electric
and magnetic fields
What is obtained from TEM- solution ?
 Given wave equation. Solve and change to laplacian operator.
 Given laplacian operation- find transverse E field and H field.
 Given E and H fields – find V and I, respectively.
 Given V and I values/ E field and H field – find impedance.

The impedance is same as that of a plane wave in a lossless medium.

Plane waves are examples of TEM waves since no field components in
the direction of propagation.

Rest parameters ( propagation/ phase constants, phase velocity, and

wavelength) are same as that of a plane wave.
 TE- Modes
TE waves also referred as H waves. Recalling Maxwell equation component
wise
TE modes: Ez = 0, Hz  0

(2)

𝛻2𝐸 + 𝑘2𝐸 = 0 Helmholtz equation/

Wave equation 𝛻 2 𝐻𝑧 + 𝑘 2 𝐻𝑧 = 0
𝛻2𝐻 + 𝑘2𝐻 = 0
 TE- Modes
𝛻 2 𝐻𝑧 + 𝑘 2 𝐻𝑧 = 0

𝜕2
𝜕2 𝜕2 2
𝜕 2 𝐻𝑧
+ + + 𝑘 𝐻𝑧 = 0 = −𝛽2 𝐻𝑧
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑧 2 𝜕𝑧 2

𝜕2 𝜕2 2 2
𝜔𝜇 𝜇
+ −𝛽 +𝑘 𝐻𝑧 = 𝑘𝑐2 2
=𝑘 −𝛽 2 𝜂= =
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝑘 𝜖
0
𝜕2
Two dimensional 𝜕2 2
2
+ 2
+ 𝑘 𝑐 𝐻𝑧 = 0
wave equation. 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

TE wave impedance is
𝐸𝑥 𝜔𝜇 𝑘𝜂
frequency dependent. 𝑍𝑇𝐸 = 𝐻𝑦 = 𝛽 = 𝛽
 TM- Modes
TM waves also referred as E waves. Recalling Maxwell equation component
wise
TM modes: Ez  0, Hz =0

(2)

𝛻2𝐸 + 𝑘2𝐸 = 0 Helmholtz equation/ 𝛻 2 𝐸𝑧 + 𝑘 2 𝐸𝑧 = 0

Wave equation
𝛻2𝐻 + 𝑘2𝐻 = 0
 TM- Modes
𝛻 2 𝐸𝑧 + 𝑘 2 𝐸𝑧 = 0
𝜕2
𝜕2 𝜕2 2
𝜕 2 𝐸𝑧
+ + + 𝑘 𝐸𝑧 = = −𝛽2 𝐸𝑧
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑧 2 𝜕𝑧 2
0

𝜕2 𝜕2 2 2
𝜔𝜇 𝜇
+ −𝛽 +𝑘 𝐸𝑧 = 𝑘𝑐2 = 𝑘 2 − 𝛽2 𝜂= 𝑘 =
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜖
0

𝜕2
Two dimensional 𝜕2 2
wave equation 2
+ 2
+ 𝑘 𝑐 𝐸𝑧 = 0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

TM wave impedance is 𝐸 𝛽 𝛽𝜂
𝑍𝑇𝑀 = 𝑥 = =
frequency dependent. 𝐻𝑦 𝜔𝜖 𝑘
 Transmission Losses
Transmission losses involve microwave losses in both conductor and medium

𝛻 × 𝐸 = −𝑗𝜔𝜇𝐻 Mathematically 𝛻2𝐸 − 𝛾2𝐸 = 0 Helmholtz equation/

𝛻 × 𝐻 = 𝑗𝜔𝜖𝐸 + 𝜎𝐸 solving 𝛻2𝐻 − 𝛾2𝐻 = 0 Wave equation

𝛾 = propagation constant
𝛾= 𝑗𝜔𝜇 𝜎 + 𝑗𝜔𝜖
𝛼 = attenuation constant
𝛾 = 𝛼 + 𝑗𝛽 𝛽 = phase constant

Let us assume E field in x direction

and H field in y direction. Then the
wave equation will be 𝜕2 𝜕2 𝜕2 2
2
+ 2
+ 2
− 𝛾 𝐸𝑥 = 0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑧
𝜕2
2
Which reduces to 2
− 𝛾 𝐸𝑥 = 0
𝜕𝑧
The solution of the equation
𝐸𝑥 𝑧 = 𝐸 + 𝑒 −𝛾𝑧 + 𝐸 − 𝑒 𝛾𝑧
for electric field
𝑗 𝜕𝐸𝑥 = −𝑗𝛾 𝜔𝜇 𝜕𝑧
The associated magnetic field 𝐻𝑦 𝑧 =
𝜔𝜇
𝐸 + 𝑒 −𝛾𝑧 −
𝐸 − 𝑒 𝛾𝑧
 Transmissio Losses
n 𝐸𝑥 𝑧 = 𝐸 + 𝑒 −𝛾𝑧 + 𝐸 − 𝑒 𝛾𝑧
−𝑗𝛾
𝐻𝑦 𝑧 = 𝐸 + 𝑒 −𝛾𝑧 − 𝐸 − 𝑒 𝛾𝑧
Electric field and magnetic field 𝜔𝜇
components perpendicular to each other.

The intrinsic impedance of 𝛾

𝑗𝜔𝜇 𝜂1
the medium is complex 𝜂= 𝐻𝑦 𝑧 = 𝐸 + 𝑒 −𝛾𝑧 − 𝐸 − 𝑒 𝛾𝑧

Propagation constant 𝛾= 𝑗𝜔𝜇 𝜎 + 𝑗𝜔𝜖 or 𝛾 = 𝛼 + 𝑗𝛽

Case 1: For good conductor (not perfect) (𝜎 ≫ 𝜔𝜖)

𝛾= 𝑗𝜔𝜇(𝜎 + 𝑗𝜔𝜀) = (1 + 𝑗) 𝜋𝑓𝜇𝜎 It means 𝛼 = 𝛽 = 𝜋𝑓𝜇𝜎

𝛼
1 1
𝛿 is called skin depth 𝛿= = Material 𝛔 in mhos/m
𝜋𝑓𝜇𝜎
Skin depth: Silver 6.1x108

The penetration depth of microwaves inside the metal Copper 5.8x108

surface during propagation. components.
Higher the f and σ, smaller will be the skin depth.
Less conducting material is required for microwave
Mica 10-15
Quartz 10-17
 Transmission Losses
𝑗𝜔𝜇
The intrinsic impedance 𝜂= 𝛾

Case 1: For good conductor (not perfect) (𝜎 ≫ 𝜔𝜖)

𝜋𝑓𝜇 𝜋𝑓𝜇 𝑅𝑠 is called

𝜂 = 1+𝑗 𝜎
= (1 + 𝑗)𝑅𝑠 𝑅𝑠 =
𝜎 surface resistance
Thin plate of good conductor is necessary for low loss microwave propagation.
Skin depth and surface resistance both are low for a good conductor.
Case 2: For good dielectric (not perfect) (𝜎 ≪ 𝜔𝜀)

𝜇 1−𝑗 𝜎 −1/2
𝜂=
𝜖 𝜔𝜖

The 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛿 is loss tangent 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛿 = 𝜎 𝛿

of the material 𝜔𝜖

Low tangent loss is necessary for a good dielectric material.

 Transmission Losses
Case 2: For good dielectric (not perfect) (𝜎 ≪ 𝜔𝜀)

−1/2
𝑗𝜔𝜇 𝜇 1−𝑗 𝜎 𝜎
𝜂= 𝜂= 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛿 =
𝛾 𝜖 𝜔𝜖 𝜔𝜀

Propagation constant 𝜎
𝛾= 𝑗𝜔𝜇 𝜎 + 𝑗𝜔𝜖 𝛾 = 𝑗𝜔 𝜇𝜖 1 − 𝑗
𝜔𝜖
𝛾 = 𝑗𝜔 𝜇𝜖 ∕ 1 − 𝑗𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛿 Compare with 𝛾 = 𝑗𝜔 𝜇𝜖

𝜖 is a complex quantity 𝜖 = 𝜖 / − 𝑗𝜖 ∕∕ 𝜖 = 𝜖0 𝜖𝑟 1 − 𝑗𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛿

For TE/ TM modes, the propagation is complex 𝜔𝜇 𝜇

𝑘𝑐2 = 𝑘 2 − 𝛽2 𝜂= =
and defined as 𝑘 𝜖

𝛾= 𝑘𝑐2 − 𝑘 2 = 𝑘𝑐2 − 𝜔 2 𝜇𝜖 𝛾= 𝑘𝑐2 − 𝜔 2 𝜇𝜖0 𝜖𝑟 1 − 𝑗𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛿

𝛾= 𝑘𝑐2 − 𝑘 2 + 𝑗𝑘 2 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝛿 Without loss

2
𝑗𝑘 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛿 𝑘 2 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛿 Dielectric loss
= 𝑐2
𝑘 − 𝑘2 + = 2𝛽 + 𝑗𝛽
2 𝑘𝑐2 − 𝑘 2
 Transmission Losses
For TE/ TM modes, the propagation is complex and defined as
2
𝑗𝑘 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛿 𝑘 2 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛿
𝛾= 𝑐2 = 2𝛽 + 𝑗𝛽 𝛾 = 𝛼 + 𝑗𝛽
𝑘 − 𝑘2 +
2 𝑘𝑐2 − 𝑘 2
The attenuation constant for the dielectric loss is
𝑘 2 𝑡 𝑛𝛿
𝛼𝑑 = Np/m Applies to TE/ TM wave, as long as the guide
2𝛽𝑎 is filled with dielectric material.
For TEM mode, 𝑘𝑐 = 0 and 𝑘 = 𝛽
𝑘𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛿 Applies to TEM wave.
𝛼𝑑 = 2 Np/m

The attenuation constant for the conductor loss, considering dimensions, is

Np/m

For rectangular waveguide

 Transmission Losses
The attenuation constant for the conductor loss, considering dimensions, is

N p/m 𝜌11′=1.841

For circular waveguide

The total attenuation constant in single transmission line waveguide is
𝛼 = 𝛼 𝐶 + 𝛼𝑑
Material 𝛔 in S/m

Silver 6.1 X 108

Copper 5.8 X 108

Gold
4.1 X 108
Brass
1.5 X 108

For rectangular waveguide with a For circular waveguide with a =

= 2.00 cm, brass coated. 2.54 cm, copper coated.
 Summary

 Concept of modes.
 Different modes: TEM, TE and TM modes of propagation.
 Different parameters calculation like impedance, V and I.
 Different losses in transmission lines: Conductor and
dielectric losses.
 The concept of modes will help us to extend the theory of
microwaves for the next unit and design microwave
components and devices.
Thank you !