Lec1 Notes

Introduction to Microwave Engineering
and Transmission line theory
Ratnajit Bhattacharjee
IIT Guwahati
Contents
• Brief history of microwaves

• Microwave frequency bands
• Different applications of microwave
• Microwave transmission lines
• Lumped element circuit model of transmission
line
Brief history of microwaves
• The term Microwaves usually refer to
electromagnetic waves with wavelengths
ranging from about one meter to one
millimetre.
• Microwaves were first introduced in the
technical literature in 1932 by Nello Carrara,
to designate electromagnetic (EM) waves
having wavelength smaller than 30 cm ( i.e.
frequency above 1 GHz) [1][2].
[1] R. Sorrentino and G. Bianchi, “ Microwave and RF Engineering”, John Wiley and
Sons, 2010
[2] N. Carrara, ‘The detection of microwaves’, Proceedings of the Institute of Radio
Engineers (IRE), Vol. 20, No. 10, pp. 1615–1625, 1932
 Foundations of modern electromagnetic
theory were formulated by James Clerk
Maxwell in 1873
 Maxwell’s formulation was cast in its modern
form by Oliver Heaviside during the period
from 1885 to 1887
 He introduced vector notation, and provided a
foundation for practical applications of guided
waves and transmission lines.
Ref: D. M. Pozar, Microwave Engineering; 4/e, John Wiley & Sons Inc, 2012.
 During the period 1887-1891, Heinrich Hertz,
a noted German physicist and experimentalist
provided experimental validation of Maxwell’s
theory of electromagnetic waves
 Due to lack of reliable microwave sources and
other components, the growth of radio
technology in the early 1900s occurred
primarily in the HF (3-30 MHz) to VHF (30-300
MHz) range.
• During 1895 Marconi designed, built and experimented with a
microwave communication system that worked at a wavelength of
10 inches (or 25.4 cm) corresponding to a centre frequency of
about 1.18 GHz in the present day L-Band [1].
• Marconi’s early experiments on radio, during 1894-1896, were at

frequencies on the order of 1000 MHz although his major efforts in
developing commercial wireless service were at very much lower
frequencies in order to achieve practical long-distance
communications [2].
[1] Prebir K. Bandoyopadhyay, “Guglielmo Marconi - The father of long distance radio
communication - An engineer's tribute”, 25th European Microwave Conference,1995
DOI: 10.1109/EUMA.1995.337090
[2] H. Sobol, “Microwave Communications- An Historical Perspective”, IEEE
TRANSACTIONS ON MICROWAVE THEORY AND TECHNIQUES, VOL. MTr-32, NO.9,
SEPTEMBER 1984
• In the late 1930s, it became evident that
several effects limit the operation of vacuum
tubes in the microwave frequency band, as
wavelength becomes comparable to the
dimensions of the tube.
• Possibility of microwave generation by
utilizing transit time effects together with
lumped tuned circuits was suggested by A. A.
Heil and O. Heil in 1935
Ref: S. M. Liao, Microwave devices and Circuits; 3/e, Prentice Hall of India, 2004.
• In 1939, W. C. Hahn and G. F. Metcalf proposed
the theory of velocity modulation.
• In the same year, klystron amplifier and oscillator,
which used velocity modulation, were developed
by R. H. Varian and S. F. Varian.
• Although Hull invented magnetron in 1921, it
remained as a laboratory device till cylindrical
magnetron was developed by Boot and Randall in
early 1940.
• In 1944, R. Kompfner invented helix type TWT
Ref: S. M. Liao, Microwave devices and Circuits; 3/e, Prentice Hall of India, 2004.
• Radar, the first major application of microwave
technology, was intensively developed during World
War II. With the advent of radar, microwave theory and
technology received substantial interest.
• Radiation Laboratory was established at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology to develop radar
theory and practice.
• Several renowned scientists contributed to theoretical
and experimental treatment of waveguide
components, microwave antennas, small-aperture
coupling theory, and microwave network theory.
• Early 1960s saw the emergence of solid state
microwave sources and microwave integrated
circuits.
• Hybrid microwave integrated circuits started
maturing in mid 1970s and Monolithic microwave
integrated circuit technology became popular in
1990s.
• The recognition of Microwave Engineering as a
major field within electrical engineering resulted
in creation of IRE group of MTT in 1952
Microwave Frequency Bands
• Microwaves usually correspond to
frequencies between 300 MHz and 300 GHz,
(wavelengths between 1 millimetre and 1
metre).
• In the Electromagnetic spectrum, microwaves
occupy the frequencies above ordinary radio
waves and below infrared light.
• The microwave frequency range is further
subdivided into several bands
Microwave Frequency bands (IEEE)
Designation Frequency range in GHz
UHF 0.3-1
L 1-2
S 2-4
C 4-8
X 8-12
Ku 12-18
K 18-27
Ka 27-40
V 40-75
W 75-110
Millimeter wave 30-300
Sub-millimeter Waves 300-3000
Ref: R. Sorrentino and G. Bianchi, “ Microwave and RF Engineering”, John Wiley
and Sons, 2010
Applications of Microwaves
• Communication • Radar
– Terrestrial – Civilian
• Air Traffic Control
• Microwave Links • Ship Traffic Control
• Cellular • Car Traffic Control
• Remote Sensing
• WLAN
– Military
• Surveillance
– Satellite • Navigation
• Weapon Guidance
• Electronic Warfare
Applications of Microwaves
• Industrial and • Biomedical
commercial – Hyperthermia
– Heating – Imaging
– Drying – Microwave
spectroscopy and
– Cutting sensing for
– Process control biological cells
– Waste treatment – Medical
– Sensing and monitoring implantable
devices
Microwave Transmission Lines
• Transmission line refers to a structure used to guide
the flow of energy from one point to the other
• A uniform transmission line is defined as one whose
dimensions and electrical properties are identical to
planes transverse to the direction of wave propagation
• The main features desired in transmission lines are:
– Single mode propagation over a broad band of
frequencies
– Signal attenuation should be very small
• A wide variety of transmission line structures have
been developed for the microwave band of
frequencies.
Lumped Element circuit Model of Transmission Line
• A transmission line can be analyzed by solving

Maxwell’s equations and applying appropriate
boundary conditions.
• However, a simpler technique which utilizes ac circuit
concepts can be used where the phenomenon of wave
propagation on transmission lines can be approached
from an extension of circuit theory
• Circuit analysis assumes that the physical dimensions
of the network to be much smaller than the electrical
wavelength so that the elements of the network can be
treated as lumped.
• At microwave frequencies, a transmission line may be

of the order of a wavelength, or many wavelengths, in
size.
• Voltages and currents can vary in magnitude and phase
over its length
• A transmission line, as an extension of circuit theory, is
modelled as a distributed parameter network
• A transmission line is often schematically represented
as a two-wire line and an infinitesimal section of such
transmission line can be modelled as lumped element
circuit.
• R, L, G, and C are per-unit-length quantities
• The series inductance L ( in H/m) represents the total

self-inductance of the two conductors
• The shunt capacitance C (in F/m) is due to the close
proximity of the two conductors
• The series resistance R (in Ω/m) is due to the finite
conductivity of the individual conductors
• The shunt conductance G (S/m) represents dielectric
loss in the material between the two conductors.
Lumped element circuit model of transmission line
• The transmission line parameters R, L, G & C

can be determined for simple line geometries
through field analysis of transmission lines
• For a coaxial transmission line of inner radius
a and outer radius b
𝜇 𝑏 2𝜋𝜖 ′ 𝑅𝑆 1 1 2𝜋𝜔𝜖 ′′
𝐿= 𝑙𝑛 𝐶= 𝑅= + 𝐺=
2𝜋 𝑎 𝑏 2𝜋 𝑎 𝑏 𝑏
𝑙𝑛 𝑙𝑛
𝑎 𝑎
𝜖 = 𝜖 ′ − 𝑗𝜖 ′′ =𝜖 ′ 1 − 𝑗tan𝛿
𝑅𝑆 is the surface resistance of the conductor

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Introduction to Microwave Engineering

and Transmission line theory

• Brief history of microwaves

• Marconi’s early experiments on radio, during 1894-1896, were at

• A transmission line can be analyzed by solving

• At microwave frequencies, a transmission line may be

• R, L, G, and C are per-unit-length quantities

• The series inductance L ( in H/m) represents the total

• The transmission line parameters R, L, G & C

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