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E M Waves and Transmission Lines Unit 6

Lecture Notes 41
Conductors and dielectrics
As some media behave lilke good conductors at one frequency range and like good
dielectrics at some other frequency range, the conventional definitions of conductors and
dielectrics are not satisfactory in communication through EM waves.
The displacement current density,
J d = D =∈ E = jω ∈ E
and the conduction current density,
J c = σE

Jc σ
=
Jd ω ∈

Definition of a good conductor

σ
If >> 1, the medium is a good conductor.
ω∈

Definition of a good dielectric

σ
If << 1, the medium is a good dielectric.
ω∈

Dissipation factor of a dielectric material (Df) is defiend as

σ
Df ≡
ω∈

When D f is small for a specific type of dielectric material, the dissipation factor is
practically the same as its power factor which is equal to sin φ . Here, φ = tan −1 D f .

1. WAVE PROPAGATION CHARACTERISTICS IN GOOD DIELECTRICS

Attenuation constant, α is given by

µ ∈  σ2 
α =ω 1 + 2 2 −1 1.13
2  ω ∈ 


T. Sreedhar, ECE, GMRIT.

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E M Waves and Transmission Lines Unit 6

Lecture Notes 41
σ
For dielectrics, << 1
ω∈
1
 σ2 2

Expanding 1 + 2 2  by Binominal series, higher order terms can be neglected.
 ω ∈ 

σ2  1 
1 + 2 2 ≈ 1 + 2 2 
ω ∈  2ω ∈ 

Now Equation (1.13) becomes

µ ∈  σ 2  
α ≈ω  1+ 2 2 − 1
2  ω ∈  
 

µ ∈σ 2
=ω
4ω 2 ∈2
µσ 2
=ω
4ω 2 ∈

σ µ
α=
2 ∈

The phase shift constant, β is given by

µ ∈  σ2  
β =ω  1 + 2 2  + 1
2  ω ∈  

µ ∈ σ2 
≈ω 1 + 2 2
+ 1
2  2ω ∈ 
µ ∈ σ2 
That is, β ≈ ω 2 + 
2  2ω 2 ∈2 

 σ2 
= ω µ ∈ 1 + 2 2

 4ω ∈ 

 σ2 

β = ω µ ∈1 + 2 2 
 8ω ∈ 

The velocity of propagation is

T. Sreedhar, ECE, GMRIT.

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E M Waves and Transmission Lines Unit 6

Lecture Notes 41
ω ω
υ= =
β  σ2 
ω µ ∈1 + 2 2 
8ω ∈ 

1
≈
 σ2 
µ ∈1 + 
 8ω 2 ∈2 

1  σ2 
υ≈ = 1 − 
µ ∈  8ω ∈ 
2 2

Intrinsic or characteristic impedance of general medium, η

   
   
jωµ jωµ  1 = µ 1 
υ= =
σ + jωµ jωµ  σ  ∈ σ 
1+  1+ 
 jω ∈   jω ∈ 

µ σ 
η≈ 1 + j 
∈ 2ω ∈ 

T. Sreedhar, ECE, GMRIT.

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