TRANSMISSION LINES

By
Dr. Sarthak Singhal
 Transmission Line Theory

Introduction:
In an electronic system, the delivery of power
requires the connection of two wires between the
source and the load. At low frequencies, power is
considered to be delivered to the load through the wire.
In the microwave frequency region, power is
considered to be in electric and magnetic fields that are
guided from lace to place by some physical structure.
Any physical structure that will guide an
electromagnetic wave place to place is called a
Transmission Line.
 Types of Transmission Lines

1. Two wire line

2. Coaxial cable
3. Waveguide
➢ Rectangular
➢ Circular
4. Planar Transmission Lines
➢ Strip line
➢ Microstrip line
➢ Slot line
➢ Fin line
➢ Coplanar Waveguide
➢ Coplanar slot line
 Analysis of differences between Low and High
Frequency
• At low frequencies, the circuit elements are lumped since
voltage and current waves affect the entire circuit at the same
time.
• At microwave frequencies, such treatment of circuit elements
is not possible since voltag and current waves do not affect the
entire circuit at the same time.
• The circuit must be broken down into unit sections within
which the circuit elements are considered to be lumped.
• This is because the dimensions of the circuit are comparable to
the wavelength of the waves according to the formula:
l = c/f
where,
c = velocity of light
f = frequency of voltage/current
 Transmission Line Concepts
• The transmission line is divided into small units where the circuit elements can be
lumped.
• Assuming the resistance of the lines is zero, then the transmission line can be
modeled as an LC ladder network with inductors in the series arms and the
capacitors in the shunt arms.
• The value of inductance and capacitance of each part determines the velocity of
propagation of energy down the line.
• Time taken for a wave to travel one unit length is equal to
T(s) = (LC)0.5
• Velocity of the wave is equal to
v (m/s) = 1/T
• Impedance at any point is equal to
Z = V (at any point)/I (at any point)
Z = (L/C)0.5
 Waveguiding Structures
A wave guiding structure is one that carries a signal
(or power) from one point to another.

There are three common types:

▪ Transmission lines
▪ Fiber-optic guides
▪ Waveguides

6
 Transmission Line
Properties
▪ Has two conductors running parallel
▪ Can propagate a signal at any frequency (in theory)
▪ Becomes lossy at high frequency
▪ Can handle low or moderate amounts of power
▪ Does not have signal distortion, unless there is loss
▪ May or may not be immune to interference
▪ Does not have Ez or Hz components of the fields (TEMz)

Twin lead
Coaxial cable (coax) (shown connected to a 4:1
impedance-transforming balun)
7
Figure 11.1 Typical transmission lines in cross-sectional view: (a) coaxial line, (b) two-wire line, (c) planar line, (d) wire above conducting plane,
(e) microstrip line.

8
1. The line parameters R, L, G, and C are not discrete or lumped but distributed as shown in
Figure 11.3. By this we mean that the parameters are uniformly distributed along the entire
length of the line.
2. For each line, the conductors are characterized by σc, µ c, εc= εo, and the homogeneous
dielectric separating the conductors is characterized by σ, µ, ε.
3. G  1 R ; R is the ac resistance per unit length of the conductors comprising the line
and G is the conductance per unit length due to the dielectric medium separating
the conductors.
4. For each line, LC= µε and (G/C)=(σ/ε)

Figure 11.3 Distributed parameters of a two-conductor transmission line.

Figure 11.2 Common transmission lines: (a) coaxial line, (b) two-wire line, (c) planar line.

Elements of Electromagnetics
10
Fourth Edition Sadiku
TRANSMISSION LINE EQUATIONS
An important property of TEM waves is that the fields E and H are uniquely related to voltage
V and current I, respectively:

Figure 11.5 An L-type equivalent circuit model of a two-conductor transmission line of differential length Dz.

Elements of Electromagnetics
11
Fourth Edition Sadiku
 Transmission Line (cont.)
i(z,t) RDz LDz i(z+Dz,t)

+ +

v(z,t) GDz CDz v(z+Dz,t)

- -
z

i ( z , t )
v( z , t ) = v( z + Dz , t ) + i ( z , t ) RDz + LDz
t
v( z + Dz , t )
i ( z , t ) = i ( z + Dz , t ) + v( z + Dz , t ) G Dz + C Dz
t
12
 TEM Transmission Line (cont.)
Hence

v( z + Dz , t ) − v( z , t ) i ( z , t )
= − Ri ( z , t ) − L
Dz t
i ( z + Dz , t ) − i ( z , t ) v( z + Dz , t )
= −Gv( z + Dz , t ) − C
Dz t

Now let Dz → 0:

v i
= − Ri − L
z t “Telegrapher’sE
quations”
i v
= − Gv − C
z t
13
 TEM Transmission Line (cont.)
To combine these, take the derivative of the first one with
respect to z:

v2
i   i 
= −R − L  
z 2
z z  t  Switch the
order of the
i   i  derivatives.
= −R − L  
z t  z 
 v 
= − R  −Gv − C 
 t 
 v  v 2

− L  −G − C
 t t  2

14
 TEM Transmission Line (cont.)

v
2
 v   v  v 2

= − R  −Gv − C  − L  −G − C
z 2
 t   t t  2

Hence, we have:

v
2
v  v
2

− ( RG ) v − ( RC + LG ) − LC  =0
z 2
t  t 
2

The same equation also holds for i.

15
 TEM Transmission Line (cont.)

Time-Harmonic Waves:

v 2
v  v
2

− ( RG ) v − ( RC + LG ) − LC  =0
z 2
t  t 
2

2
dV
− ( RG )V − ( RC + LG ) jV − LC (− )V = 0
2
2

dz
16
 TEM Transmission Line (cont.)
2
dV
= ( RG )V + j ( RC + LG )V − ( LC )V
2
2

dz

Note that

RG + j ( RC + LG ) −  LC = ( R + j L)(G + j C )
2

Z = R + j L = series impedance/length

Y = G + jC = parallel admittance/length

2
dV
Then we can write: = ( ZY )V
2
dz
17
 TEM Transmission Line (cont.)
2

 = ZY dV
= ( )V
2
Let Then 2

2
dz

Solution: V ( z ) = Ae + Be
− z + z

 is called the "propagation constant."

 =  ( R + j L)(G + jC ) 
1/ 2
Convention:
z= z e j /2
= principal square root
−    

 =  + j  = attenuation contant
  0,   0  = phase constant
18
 TEM Transmission Line (cont.)
Forward travelling wave (a wave traveling in the positive z direction):

V + ( z ) = V0+ e − z = V0+ e − z e − j  z


v + ( z , t ) = Re (V0+ e − z e − j  z ) e jt 
= Re ( V 0
+
e j e − z e − j  z )e 
jt

= V0+ e − z cos (t −  z +  )

The wave “repeats” when:

 = 2
g
t =0
g
+ − z Hence:
V e0

2
z =
 g

19
 General Case (Waves in Both Directions)
V ( z ) = V0+ e +  z + V0− e +  z
j + + z − j  z j −
=V e e
0
+
e + V e e + z e + j  z
0
−

wave in +z
direction wave in -z
Note: direction

v ( z , t ) = Re V ( z ) e jt 
= V0+ e − z cos (t −  z +  + )
+ V0− e + z cos (t +  z +  − )

20
 Backward-Traveling Wave
I - (z)
+
V -(z)
- z

A wave is traveling in the negative z direction.

V − ( z) V − ( z)
−
= Z0 so = −Z0
−I ( z) −
I ( z)

Note: The reference directions for voltage and current are the same as
for the forward wave.

21
 General Case
I (z)
+
V (z)
- z

Most general case: A general superposition of forward and backward

traveling waves:

V ( z ) = V0 + e − z + V0 − e +  z Note: The reference

directions for voltage
1 and current are the
I ( z) = V0 + e − z − V0 − e +  z  same for forward and
Z0 backward waves.

22
 Characteristic Impedance Z0
I+ (z)
+
V+(z)
- z

A wave is traveling in the positive z direction.

V + ( z)
Z0  +
I ( z)

+
V0
+
V ( z ) = V0 e + − z so Z0 = +
I0
I + ( z ) = I 0 + e − z
(Z0 is a number, not a function of z.)
23
 Characteristic Impedance Z0 (cont.)

Use Telegrapher’s Equation:

v i
= − Ri − L
z t

dV
so = − RI − j LI
dz
= − ZI

+ − z + − z
Hence − V0 e = − ZI 0 e

24
 Characteristic Impedance Z0 (cont.)

V0+ Z  Z 
1/2

From this we have: Z0 = + = =  

I0  Y 

Using
Z = R + j L
Y = G + jC

1/2
We have  R + j L 
Z0 =  
 G + j C 

Note: The principal branch of the square root is chosen, so that Re (Z0) > 0.
25
 Backward-Traveling Wave
I - (z)
+
V -(z)
- z

A wave is traveling in the negative z direction.

V − ( z) V − ( z)
−
= Z0 so = −Z0
−I ( z) −
I ( z)

Note: The reference directions for voltage and current are the same as
for the forward wave.

26
 Phase Velocity
Track the velocity of a fixed point on the wave (a point of constant phase), e.g., the
crest.

vp (phase velocity)

v + ( z , t ) = V0 + e − z cos(t −  z +  )

27
 Phase Velocity (cont.)

Set t −  z = constant
dz
− =0
dt
dz 
=
dt 

 In expanded form:
Hence v = 
p
 v =
p


Im  ( R + j L)(G + jC ) 
1/ 2


28
 Summary of Basic TL formulas
I(z)
+ V(z)
-
z
V ( z) = V e
0
+ − z − + z
+V e
0

V0+ − z V0− +  z
I (z) = e − e
Z0 Z0 guided wavelength  g
 =  + j  = ( R + j L )( G + jC ) 
1
2
2

g =  m
 R + j L 
1
2 
Z0 =  
 G + j C 
phase velocity  vp

vp = [m/s]

29
 Lossless Case
R = 0, G = 0

 =  + j  =  ( R + j L)(G + j C ) 
1/ 2

= j LC

 =0 
so vp =
 =  LC 

1/2
 R + j L  L 1
Z0 =   Z0 = vp =
 G + jC  C LC
(real and indep. of freq.) (indep. of freq.)
30
 Lossless Case (cont.)
1
vp =
LC
In the medium between the two conductors is homogeneous (uniform)
and is characterized by (, ), then we have that

LC =  (proof given later)

1
The speed of light in a dielectric medium is cd =


Hence, we have that v p = cd

The phase velocity does not depend on the frequency, and it is always the
speed of light (in the material).
31
B. Distortionless Line (R/L = G/C)

A distortionless line is one in which the attenuation constant α is

frequency independent while the phase constant β is linearly
dependent on frequency.
 Terminated Transmission Line
Terminating impedance (load)
V ( z ) = V0+ e − z + V0− e +  z
I(z)
+ V(z)
ZL
Ampl. of voltage wave -
z
propagating in positive z
direction at z = 0. z=0
Ampl. of voltage wave
propagating in negative z
direction at z = 0.

Where do we assign z = 0?

The usual choice is at the load.

Note: The length l measures distance from the load: = −z

35
 Terminated Transmission Line (cont.)
Terminating impedance (load)
V ( z) = V e0
+ − z
+V e0
− + z

I(z)
What if we know + V(z)
ZL
-
V + and V − @ z = − z
Can we use z = - l as a z=0
reference plane?

V0+ = V + ( 0 ) = V + ( − ) e − V − (− ) = V − ( 0 ) e−
 V0− = V − ( 0 ) = V − ( − ) e
Hence

V ( z) = V + (− )e +V − (− )e
− ( z + )  ( z+ )

36
 Terminated Transmission Line (cont.)
Terminating impedance (load)

I(z)
+ V(z)
ZL
-
z
z=0
Compare:

V ( z ) = V + ( 0 ) e − z + V − ( 0 ) e +  z

V ( z) = V + (− )e +V − (− )e
− ( z −( − ) )  ( z −( − ))

Note: This is simply a change of reference plane, from z = 0 to z = -l.

37
 Terminated Transmission Line (cont.)

V ( z ) = V0+ e − z + V0− e +  z Terminating impedance (load)

I(z)
+ V(z)
What is V(-l )? ZL
-
z
V (− ) 0
= V + 
e + V − −
0 e
z=0

propagating forwards propagating

backwards

The current at z = - l is then

V0+  V0− −
I (− ) = e − e
Z0 Z0 l  distance away from load
38
 Terminated Transmission Line (cont.)
I(-l )

+
Z0 ,  V(-l ) ZL
-
l
Total volt. at distance l
from the load
 V −
−2 
V (− ) = V0+ e + V0− e − + 
= V0 e 1 + + e 
0

 V0 
Ampl. of volt. wave prop.
towards load, at the load Ampl. of volt. wave prop. L  Load reflection coefficient
position (z = 0). away from load, at the
load position (z = 0). l  Reflection coefficient at z = - l

= V0+ e (1 +  L e −2 )
Similarly,
V0+ 
I (− ) = e (1 −  L e −2 )
Z0 39
Terminated Transmission Line (cont.)
I(-l )

+
Z0 ,  V(-l ) ZL
-
l
Z (− )

V (− ) = V0+ e (1 +  e )
L
−2

V0+ 
I (− ) = e (1 −  L e −2 )
Z0
V (− ) = Z  1 +  L e−2 
Z (− ) =
I (− ) 0  1 −  L e−2 


Input impedance seen “looking” towards load at z

= -l . 40
Terminated Transmission Line (cont.)
At the load (l = 0):

 1+ L  Z L − Z0
Z ( 0) = Z0    ZL  L =
 1− L  Z L + Z0

 1 +  L e −2 
Recall Z ( − ) = Z0  −2 
 1 −  L e 

Thus,   Z L − Z 0  −2 
 1+  e 
  Z L + Z0  
Z ( − ) = Z0
  Z − Z  −2 
 1 −  L 0
e 
  Z L + Z0  
41
 Terminated Transmission Line (cont.)
Simplifying, we have
  Z L − Z 0  −2 
 1+  e 
Z ( − ) = Z0   L
Z + Z 0  =Z  ( Z + Z ) + ( Z − Z ) e −2

0 
L 0 L 0
  Z − Z  −2   ( Z + Z ) − ( Z − Z ) e −2
 1 −  L   L 0 L 0 
e
0

  Z L + Z0  
 ( Z L + Z 0 ) e +  + ( Z L − Z 0 ) e − 
= Z 0  
 ( Z L + Z0 ) e − ( Z L − Z0 ) e
+ −

 Z cosh (  ) + Z 0 sinh ( ) 
= Z 0  L 
 Z 0 cosh (  ) + Z L sinh ( ) 

Hence, we have

 Z L + Z 0 tanh (  )
Z ( − ) = Z 0  
 Z 0 + Z L tanh (  )
42
 Terminated Lossless Transmission Line
 =  + j = j

V (− ) = V0+ e j (1 +  eL
−2 j 
)
Impedance is periodic
+
e (1 −  L e −2 j  )
V j with period g/2
I (− )= 0

Z0
tan repeats when
 1 +  L e −2 j  
Z ( − ) = Z0  −2 j  
 1 −  Le 
 =
2
=
 Z L + jZ 0 tan (  ) g
Z ( − ) = Z 0  
 Z 0 + jZ L tan (  )
 = g / 2
Note: tanh (  ) = tanh ( j  ) = j tan (  )
43
 Terminated Lossless Transmission Line
For the remainder of our transmission line discussion we will assume that the
transmission line is lossless.
I(-l )

+
Z0 ,  V(-l ) ZL
-
l
Z (− )
V (− ) = V0+ e j (1 +  e
L
−2 j 
) Z L − Z0
V0+ j 
L =
I (− ) = e (1 −  L e −2 j  ) Z L + Z0
Z0
2
g =
Z (− ) =
V (− ) = Z  1 +  L e−2 j  
I (− ) 0  1 −  L e−2 j 


 Z + jZ 0 tan (  ) vp =
= Z 0  L 
)  
 Z 0 + jZ L tan (  44
 Matched Load
I(-l )

+
Z0 ,  V(-l ) ZL
-
l
Z (− )

A Matched load: (ZL=Z0)

Z L − Z0
L = =0
Z L + Z0
No reflection from the load

 V (− ) = V0+ e+ j
V0+ + j   Z (− ) = Z0
I (− ) = e
Z0 For any l 45
 Short-Circuit Load
B Short circuit load: (ZL = 0)
0 − Z0
L = = −1 Z0 , 
0 + Z0
 Z (− )= jZ 0 tan (  ) l

Note:  = 2
g Always imaginary!  Z (− )= jX sc

XSC X sc = Z 0 tan (  )

inductive

/ g
0 1/4 1/2 3/4

capacitive S.C. can become an O.C. with

a g/4 trans. line
46