• DECEMBER 2019

Basic Transmission Line

Structures

Developed by Kathryn L. Smith, PhD

 Sources

The material presented herein is from the following sources:

“Elements of Electromagnetics,” by Matthew N.O Sadiku, 5th ed. (2010)

“Engineering Electromagnetics,” by Nathan Ida, 3rd ed. (2015)
“Microwave Engineering,” by David Pozar, 4th ed. (2012)
Agenda

Transmission lines are structures that support guided wave propagation. We will cover
the basics of several commonly used transmission line structures in this course,
including the following:

• Coaxial Transmission Lines

• Microstrip Transmission Lines
• Parallel Plate and Rectangular Waveguides

3
Transmission Line Parameters

We can describe the performance of a particular transmission line structure using

several different parameters. Some of the most important transmission line
parameters are:

• Characteristic Impedance 𝑍∘
• Supported Modes (i.e. TE, TM, or TEM modes)
• Mode cutoff frequencies
• Phase velocity of the guided wave

4
 Transmission Line Modes
First, let’s talk a little bit about transmission line modes. Transmission line modes are
field configurations supported by the structure. We won’t be going into detail about
the differences between the modes here, but the important things you need to know
are:
• The number of modes supported by a transmission line increases with frequency.
• Each mode may be categorized as one of the following:
• Transverse Electric (TE)
• Transverse Magnetic (TM)
• Transverse Electromagnetic (TEM)
• There are several TE and several TM modes (sometimes differentiated using the subscripts TEmn, TMmn), but only one TEM mode.
• Each mode has a “cutoff frequency”, fixed by the geometry of the transmission line, below which it will not propagate.
• The TEM mode is unique in that its cutoff frequency is always D.C.
• Not all transmission lines support every kind of mode.
• The supported mode with the lowest cutoff frequency is known as the “dominant mode” of the transmission line.
• It is generally desirable to operate a transmission line within its “single mode” bandwidth – the frequency range in which only the
dominant mode can propagate.

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 Transmission Line Modes
For example, a parallel plate transmission line supports the TEM mode, and also supports an increasing
number of TE and TM modes at higher frequencies. So the number of modes supported by a parallel plate
waveguide might look something like this:
Region 1 Region 2 Region 3 Region 4

Note:
• In Region 1, only the TEM mode
This is the cutoff frequency of propagates.
both the TE3 and the TM3 • In Region 2, the TEM mode and
modes.
the first TE mode (TE1) and the
first TM mode (TM1) propagate.
• In Region 3, the TEM, TE1, TM1,
TE2, and TM2 modes propagate
f • etc.
This is the cutoff frequency of
both the TE2 and the TM2
The TEM mode propagates modes.
down to DC

This is the cutoff frequency of

both the TE1 and the TM1
modes.

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 The Coaxial Transmission Line
One very common transmission line is the coaxial transmission line, which is composed of an inner
conducting wire with radius a, a conducting outer sheath of radius b, and a dielectric with relative
permittivity 𝜖𝑟 filling the space between.
Advantages:
- Flexible
- Fields are contained (no interference with external
structures)
𝜀𝑟 - Inexpensive
- High bandwidth
𝑎
- Supports TEM propagation
𝑏
Disadvantages:
- Difficult to fabricate (usually, purchase pre-made cables)
- Unbalanced
- Often quite lossy over long distances

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 The Coaxial Transmission Line
The basic parameters of a coaxial transmission line are given as follows:

The dominant mode is TEM.

The characteristic impedance 𝑍0 is given by:
ln 𝑏ൗ𝑎 𝜇∘
𝑍0 =
2𝜋 𝜖∘ 𝜖𝑟
𝜀𝑟
The first higher-order mode is TE11, with cutoff frequency fc
𝑎 1
𝑓𝑐 =
𝜋(𝑎 + 𝑏) 𝜇∘ 𝜖∘ 𝜖𝑟
𝑏
And the phase velocity of the guided wave is:
1
𝑣𝑝ℎ =
𝜇∘ 𝜖∘ 𝜖𝑟

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 The Coaxial Transmission Line
As an example, find the characteristic impedance of a coaxial transmission line with inner radius a = 1mm,
outer radius b=4mm, and dielectric constant 𝜖𝑟 = 1.2. Also find the cutoff frequency of the first higher-
order mode. Solution
The characteristic impedance 𝑍0 is given by:

ln 0.004ൗ0.001 4𝜋 × 10−7
𝑍0 = = 75.9Ω
2𝜋 1.2 × 8.854 × 10−12
𝜀𝑟
And the first higher-order mode will begin to propagate at:
𝑎 1
𝑓𝑐 = = 17.4 GHz
𝜋(0.001 + 0.004) (4𝜋 × 10−7 )(8.854 × 10−12 )(1.2)
𝑏
So this coaxial cable has a single-mode operating band of
0 GHz – 17.4 GHz

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 The Microstrip Transmission Line
Now let’s look at the microstrip transmission line, which is composed of a conducting trace separated from
a conducting plane by a layer of dielectric having relative permittivity 𝜖𝑟 . The dielectric has a thickness of d,
and the conducting trace has a width of w.
Advantages:
Oblique View - Easy to fabricate
- Inexpensive
- High bandwidth
W conductor
d 𝜖𝑟 - Supports TEM propagation

conducting plane
dielectric
Disadvantages:
Cross-sectional View
- Susceptible to interference from nearby
structures and signals
𝜖𝑟 W
d

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 The Microstrip Transmission Line
To analyze a microstrip transmission line, where w, d, and 𝜖𝑟 are known, calculate the following parameters:
The dominant mode is quasi-TEM.
The characteristic impedance 𝑍0 is given by:

60 8𝑑 𝑤 𝑤
ln + , ≤1
𝜖𝑒 𝑤 4𝑑 𝑑
𝑍0 = 120𝜋 𝑤
𝑤 𝑤 , ≥1
𝜖𝑒 + 1.393 + 0.667 ln + 1.444 𝑑
𝑑 𝑑

1
and the phase velocity is: 𝑣𝑝ℎ =
𝜇∘ 𝜖∘ 𝜖𝑒

𝜖𝑟 + 1 𝜖𝑟 − 1 1
𝜖𝑒 = +
where 𝜖𝑒 is given by: 2 2
1 + 12 𝑑ൗ𝑊

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 The Microstrip Transmission Line
To design a microstrip transmission line to have a specified impedance 𝑍0 , you can use the following
equations:

8𝑒 𝐴 𝑤
𝑤 , ≤2
𝑒 2𝐴 − 2 𝑑
=
𝑑 2 𝜀𝑟 − 1 0.61 𝑤
𝐵 − 1 − ln 2𝐵 − 1 + ln 𝐵 − 1 + 0.39 − , >2
𝜋 2𝜀𝑟 𝜀𝑟 𝑑

where 𝐴 and 𝐵 are given by:

𝑍0 𝜀𝑟 + 1 𝜀𝑟 − 1 0.11 *Note: since w and d are initially unknown,

𝐴= + 0.23 + you won’t immediately know which of the
60 2 𝜀𝑟 + 1 𝜀𝑟
above equations apply. Pick one, solve it, and
check that your solution matches the
377𝜋 piecewise criterion. If it doesn’t, use the other
𝐵= one to obtain your final solution.
2𝑍0 𝜀𝑟

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 The Microstrip Transmission Line
In the case of a microstrip line, the cutoff frequency of the next mode is a little fuzzier than it was for the
coax, but a good general-case rule of thumb is that a microstrip should be operated at frequencies below
the threshold frequency given by:
𝑐
𝑓𝑡 ≈
4𝑑 𝜖𝑟 − 1

As an example, design a microstrip transmission line to have characteristic impedance 𝑍0 = 50Ω, using a
dielectric substrate with thickness d = 0.79 mm and relative permittivity 𝜀𝑟 = 4.4.
Solution
Let’s start by guessing that w/d < 2
For this case, we will need to calculate A. We will use:

50 4.4 + 1 4.4 − 1 0.11

𝐴= + 0.23 + = 1.5299
60 2 4.4 + 1 4.4

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 The Microstrip Transmission Line
As an example, design a microstrip transmission line to have characteristic impedance 𝑍0 = 50Ω, using a
dielectric substrate with thickness d = 0.79 mm and relative permittivity 𝜀𝑟 = 4.4.
Solution, continued from previous page
𝑤
We plug our calculated value of A into the equation for , as:
𝑑

𝑤 8𝑒1.5299
= = 1.9136
𝑑 𝑒 2×1.5299 − 2

𝑤
Since this satisfies the criterion ≤ 2, we can take this as our final solution. If it did
𝑑 𝑤
not, we would need to go back and use the other equation to solve for . Now, using
𝑑
our known d value, we can find w, as:

𝑤
𝑤= ∗ 0.79 𝑚𝑚 = 1.51 𝑚𝑚
𝑑

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 The Parallel Plate Waveguide
The parallel plate waveguide is composed of two conducting traces of width w, separation d, and a dielectric
with relative permittivity 𝜖𝑟 filling the space between. Analysis assumes that the separation d is much less
than the waveguide width w (minimizing fringing).
Advantages:
- Easy to fabricate
- Fields are more contained than in a microstrip
- Inexpensive
- High bandwidth
- Supports TEM propagation
𝜀𝑟 𝑑

Disadvantages:
𝑤
- Bulky
𝑁𝑜𝑡𝑒: 𝑤 ≫ 𝑑 - Inflexible

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 The Parallel Plate Waveguide
The basic parameters of a parallel plate waveguide in its dominant TEM mode are given as follows:

The characteristic impedance 𝑍0 is given by:

𝑑 𝜇∘
𝑍0 = 𝜂 where 𝜂=
𝑤 𝜖∘ 𝜖𝑟

The higher-order modes TE1 and TM1 both begin to

propagate at the same frequency fc, which is:
𝜀𝑟 𝑐 1
𝑑 𝑓𝑐 = where 𝑐=
2𝑑 𝜖𝑟 𝜇∘ 𝜖∘
𝑤 And the phase velocity of the guided wave is:
𝑁𝑜𝑡𝑒: 𝑤 ≫ 𝑑 𝑐
𝑣𝑝ℎ =
𝜖𝑟

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 The Parallel Plate Waveguide
A parallel plate waveguide also supports useful higher-order modes, both TEn and TMn, where n is a positive
integer index used to differentiate between the several modes in each category, which has a minimum value
of 1. These modes have properties given by:
TEn: TMn:

𝑘𝑐,𝑛 = 𝑛𝜋ൗ𝑑 𝑘𝑐,𝑛 = 𝑛𝜋ൗ𝑑

𝜔 𝜔
𝑣𝑝ℎ,𝑛 = 𝑣𝑝ℎ,𝑛 =
𝑘 2 + 𝑘𝑐 2 𝑘 2 + 𝑘𝑐 2
𝜀𝑟 𝑑 𝑐𝑛 𝑐𝑛
𝑓𝑐,𝑛 = 𝑓𝑐,𝑛 =
2𝑑 2𝑑
𝑤 𝑘𝜂
𝛽𝑛 𝜂ൗ 𝑍0,𝑛 = ൗ𝛽
𝑍0,𝑛 = 𝑘 𝑛
𝑁𝑜𝑡𝑒: 𝑤 ≫ 𝑑
𝜔
where 𝑘 = 𝜔 𝜇∘ 𝜖∘ 𝜖𝑟 , and 𝛽𝑛 = 𝑣
𝑝ℎ ,𝑛

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 The Parallel Plate Waveguide
As an example, find the characteristic impedance of a parallel plate waveguide operating in the TEM mode,
given that w = 100mm, d = 2mm, and 𝜖𝑟 = 3. Also find the cutoff frequency of the first higher-order mode.
Solution
The characteristic impedance 𝑍0 is given by:

𝑑 2 𝜇∘
𝑍0 = 𝜂 = = 43.5Ω
𝑤 10 4𝜖∘

And the first higher-order mode will begin to propagate at:

𝜀𝑟 𝑑 𝑐 3 × 108
𝑓𝑐 = = = 43.3 GHz
2𝑑 𝜖𝑟 2 × 0.002 × 3
𝑤
So this parallel plate waveguide has a single-mode
𝑁𝑜𝑡𝑒: 𝑤 ≫ 𝑑 operating band of 0 GHz – 43.3 GHz

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 The Rectangular Waveguide
The rectangular waveguide is composed of a rectangular conducting tube of width a and height b, filled with
a material having relative permittivity 𝜖𝑟 and relative permeability 𝜇𝑟 .

Advantages:
- Fields are contained (no interference with external
structures)
- High bandwidth
- Can be made very low-loss

𝜖𝑟 , 𝜇𝑟 Disadvantages:
𝑏
- Bulky
- Inflexible
𝑎 - Does not support the TEM mode

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 The Rectangular Waveguide
The rectangular waveguide does not support TEM propagation! In fact, it may be shown that no single-conductor
transmission line can possibly support a TEM mode. Therefore, the modes propagating on a rectangular
waveguide are all either TEmn or TMmn where the positive integer indices m and n are used to designate specific
modes. Note that for a TE mode, m or n may be equal to zero, but not both. For a TM mode, neither m nor m
may be equal to zero. The characteristic impedances, cutoff frequencies, and phase velocities of the various
modes on a rectangular waveguide are given by:
TEmn: TMmn:
𝑚𝜋 2 𝑛𝜋 2 𝑚𝜋 2 𝑛𝜋 2
𝑘𝑐,𝑚𝑛 = + 𝑘𝑐,𝑚𝑛 = +
𝑎 𝑏 𝑎 𝑏
where: 𝑘 = 𝜔 𝜇∘ 𝜇𝑟 𝜖∘ 𝜖𝑟
𝜔 𝜔
v𝑝ℎ,𝑛 = v𝑝ℎ,𝑛 =
2 2 𝜇∘ 𝜇𝑟
𝑘 2 − 𝑘𝑐,𝑚𝑛 𝑘 2 − 𝑘𝑐,𝑚𝑛
𝜂=
𝜖∘ 𝜖𝑟
1 𝑚𝜋 2 𝑛𝜋 2 1 𝑚𝜋 2 𝑛𝜋 2
𝑓𝑐,𝑚𝑛 = + 𝑓𝑐,𝑚𝑛 = + 1
2𝜋 𝜇𝜀 𝑎 𝑏 2𝜋 𝜇𝜀 𝑎 𝑏 𝑐=
𝜇∘ 𝜖∘
𝑘𝜂 𝛽𝑚𝑛 𝜂ൗ
𝑍0,𝑚𝑛 = ൗ𝛽 𝑍0,𝑚𝑛 =
𝑚𝑛 𝑘

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 The Parallel Plate Waveguide
As an example, calculate the cutoff frequencies for the TE10 , TE01, and TM11 modes in a rectangular
waveguide with a = 47.55 mm, b = 22.15 mm, and filled with vacuum (𝜖𝑟 = 𝜇𝑟 = 1)
Solution
The cutoff frequency for the TE10 mode is:
1 𝜋
𝑓𝑐,10 = = 3.15 GHz
2𝜋 𝜇∘ 𝜖∘ 𝑎
The cutoff frequency for the TE01 mode is:
1 𝜋
𝑓𝑐,01 = = 6.77 GHz
2𝜋 𝜇∘ 𝜖∘ 𝑏
𝜖𝑟 , 𝜇𝑟
𝑏 The cutoff frequency for the TM11 mode is:

1 𝜋 2 𝜋 2
𝑎 𝑓𝑐,11 = + = 7.47 GHz
2𝜋 𝜇∘ 𝜖∘ 𝑎 𝑏

So the dominant mode in this waveguide is TE10

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