E l e c t r o m a g n e t i c s L a b o r a t o r y R e p o r t No.

85-5

ANALYSIS A;VD SYNTHESIS OF TIWNSblISS I O N LINES AND WAVEGUIDES WITH CLOSZLY SPACED DISCONTI&XJLTIES

S c i e n t i f i c Report

Byron L. Harris and P . E. Mayes

J u l y , 1985

S u p p o r t e d by RCX, P u r c h a s e O r d e r Yo. 6890897686 N o r r i s t o v n , N J 08057

Zlect r o m a c ~ n e t i c s L a b o r a t o r y D e F a r t n e n t o f E l e c t r i c a l and Computer E n z i n e e r i ~ g Engineering 5:qerirnent S t a t i o n U n i v e r s i t y of I l l i n o i s U r b a r a , 11 6 1 5 0 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER INTRODUCTION PAGE .

....................... 1 DEVELOPMENT OF MULTIPLE-DISCONTINUITY ANALYSIS . . . . . . 4 2.0 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2.1 Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2.2 Parallel-Plate Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 2.3 Coaxial-Line Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 2 4 Validation for Parallel-Plate Case . . . . . . . . . 18 . 2.5 Determining the Number of Modes to Use . . . . . . . 23
SOME APPLICATIONS OF MULTIPLE DISCONTINUITY AYALYSZS
3.0
3.1

Introduction

... ....................
............. Optimization . . . . . . . . .

24
24

Equivalent Length of a QWT Reflection Coefficient

25
29
37

3.2
4

CONCLUSION

........................

REFERENCES

..............................

38

CKAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION Microwave networks often contain abrupt changes in characteristic impedance of cylindrical or rectangular coaxial lines. These impedance changes

are most commonly a result of a change in the size of either the inner or outer conductor. Such a step change will generate many higher-ordered modes

(HOM'S) in addition to the original TEM mode supplied by the generator.

These HOM's are needed in order to satisfy the boundary condition that the tangential component of the electric field on the conductor at the discontinuity junction be zero.

The generation of HOMts will, in general, alter the frequency characteristics of the scattering parameters as predicted by using a simple transmission line model that ignores the HOM's. This thesis investigates

the analysis of lines with discontinuities taking the HOlits into account. Techniques, to be mentioned below, have previously been developed to analyze a system with a single discontinuity taking the HOM's into account. For most systems the frequency of operation is such that the HOM's will be evanescent waves. Thus the amplitude of the HOM's created at the discon-

tinuity will decay exponentially as a function of the distance from the discontinuity. Therefore, if the discontinuities are far enough apart, Of course, if the

then each discontinuity can be treated in isolation.

discontinuities are close enough, the fields at each discontinuity will interact. In addition to taking the HOM's into account, this thesis will

study the effect of closely spaced discontinuities.

In 1944, Whinnery and Jamieson showed that the effect of a single dis8

continuity at a given frequency can be represented in an equivalent circuit

by a lumped capacitor located at the discontinuity [I], [ 2 ] .

This gives

the engineer a relatively simply way of taking discontinuities into account

during the analysis and design of transmission systems. There are, however, limitations to Whinnery and Jamieson's approach:

(1)

Slowly converging series are used in the calculations.

(2) Finding equivalent circuits for two discontinuities closely spaced

is a fairly complicated analytic procedure.

(3)

Analyzing a line with more than two discontinuities closely spaced would be prohibitively complicated.

More recently [7], a technique using the conservation of complex power has been applied to a single step discontinuity. need for using slowly converging series. This approach avoids the

tiowever, like the method of

Whinnery and Jamieson, it can only be applied to a single discontinuity. In Chapter 2, a technique is outlined that does not require the use of series and can, in theory, handle any number of closely spaced discontinuities.
-As an example of applying the multiple discontinuity analysis, a coaxial

quarter-wave transformer is considered in Chapter 3.

A comparison is m d e

between the simple quarter-wave transformer model and the actual situation

when the HOM's are taken into account.

In addition, the question of whether

shaping the two impedance steps using closely spaced discontinuities can reduce the influence of the HOM's is considered.

CHAPTER 2
DEVELOPMENT OF MULTIPLE-DISCONTINUITY ANALYSIS

2.0.

Introduction

I n t h i s c h a p t e r a t e c h n i q u e i s d e v e l o p e d f o r t h e a n a l y s i s of a g u i d e o r
l i n e with multiple d i s c o n t i n u i t i e s , parallel-plate These r e s u l t s are t h e n a p p l i e d t o t h e F o r v a l i d a t i o n of t h e p a r a l l e l -

c a s e and t h e c o a x i a l c a s e .

p l a t e c a s e , a n u m e r i c a l comparison i s made between t h e t e c h n i q u e g i v e n h e r e and p r e v i o u s l y p u b l i s h e d r e s u l t s .

The approach g i v e n h e r e i n v o l v e s d e f i n i n g a m a t r i x r e l a t i n g t h e modes

a t one s i d e of a s i n g l e d i s c o n t i n u i t y w i t h t h e modes a t t h e o t h e r s i d e . A n

a d d i t i o n a l m a t r i x i s used t o r e l a t e t h e modes a t t h e o u t p u t of a s e c t i o n of

a u n i f o r m g u i d e t o t h e modes a t t h e i n p u t .

These m a t r i c e s can t h e n be manip-

u l a t e d t o o b t a i n a r e l a t i o n s h i p between t h e i n c i d e n t modes a t one s i d e of t h e r e g i o n w i t h m u l t i p l e d i s c o n t i n u i t i e s and t h e t r a n s m i t modes a t t h e o t h e r side.

This t e c h n i q u e can be c o n s i d e r e d a g e n e r a l i z a t i o n of t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n

m a t r i x a n a l y s i s t e c h n i q u e f o r s i n g l e waves ( s e e f o r example [ 6 ] ) t o i n c l u d e many h i g h e r - o r d e r modes.

2.1.

Analysis
The development that f o l l o w s w i l l be b a s e d on t h e f o l l o w i n g a s s u m p t i o n s :

1)

The guide i s a p e r f e c t c o n d u c t o r .

2)

T h e coordinate z i s parallel to the direction of propagation.

3)
4)

The discontinuities occur only in z=constant planes. Only a finite number of modes are needed to adequately specify the fields.

5)

For a two-conductor line, o n e of the conductors remains flat through the discontinuity region.

The transverse components of the fields can be written in general as (see [ 9 ] for example)

where

$ satisfies

the wave equation

vtJI

(Y,

2 + B )JI = 0

and $ vanishes on the conductor.

At t h e d i s c o n t i n u i t y , t h e f o l l o w i n g boundary c o n d i t i o n s must be s a t i s -

*tr,l
S

Htr, 2 o v e r
c

sa

(3b)

r e f e r s t o t h e a p e r t u r e a r e a and S

r e f e r s t o t h e conductor a r e a i n

t h e p l a n e of t h e d i s c o n t i n u i t y .

( s e e F i g u r e 2.1.)

Using t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s ,

t h e orthogonal

p r o p e r t i e s of

en

and

( I ) , the

modes a t one s i d e o f t h e d i s c o n t i n u i t y can be e x p r e s s e d as a l i n e a r combin a t i o n of t h e modes on t h e o t h e r s i d e .

I n m a t r i x n o t a t i o n , assuming t h e

t r a n s v e r s e d i m e n s i o n s of Region 1 t o be l a r g e r t h a n t h a t of Region 2 ,

where t h e m a t r i x e l e m e n t s a r e

The s u b s c r i p t s i n ( 5 ) r e f e r t o a p e r t u r e a r e a ( " a " ) conductor a r e a ("a+c").

and t h e a p e r t u r z p l u s

F i g u r e 2.1
C r o s s section area and region definitions.

The i n n e r p r o d u c t used i s

and t h e norm i s g i v e n by

- 2 Ilf II

<f , f >

--

It w i l l be c o n v e n i e n t t o d e f i n e a m a t r i x M c o n t a i n i n g b o t h t h e E - f i e l d
and H - f i e l d modes s u c h t h a t

Then ( 4 ) c a n be w r i t t e n a s

where t h e d i s c o n t i n u i t y m a t r i x i s g i v e n by

For t h e c a s e where t h e t r a n s v e r s e d i m e n s i o n s of t h a n t h a t of Region 2 ,

Region I a r e s m a l l e r These e q u a t i o n s Symbolically, i f

( 4 ) and ( 5 ) a r e no l o n g e r v a l i d .

w i l l be v a l i d i f t h e s u b s c r i p t s 1 and 2 a r e i n t e r c h a n g e d .
we w r i t e D ( 1 $ 2 ) t o e x p r e s s

>

t h e d i s c o n t i n u i t y m a t r i x f o r t h e c a s e vhen

Region 1 i s l a r g e r t h a n Region 2 and D (1,2)

<

f o r t h e c a s e when Region 1 i s

s m a l l e r t h a n Region 2 , t h e n

From ( 2 ) t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p between t h e modes i n a r e g i o n of t h e g u i d e w i t h c o n s t a n t c r o s s s e c t i o n can be f o u n d ,

In matrix notation,

where

i f n = m i f n f m

W i t h t h e s e t o o l s a t o u r d i s p o s a l , t h e r e l a t i o n between t h e modes i n the i n c i d e n t r e g i o n and t h e modes i n t h e t r a n s m i t r e g i o n can easily be found. F o r example, i f t h e n we c a n w r i t e t h e d i s c . o n t i n u i t y r e g i o n c o n s i s t s of two d i s c o n t i n u i t i e s ,

where T

D LD
1

2'

Dl is the discontinuity matrix for the first discontinuity, L is the

line matrix representing the line between the discontinuities, and D is 2 the discontinuity matrix for the second discontinuity.

If the first discontinuity the incident wave hits is taken to be at

z = 0,

then from (2) the field in Region 1 at the first discontinuity can

be written as

In addition, if T is partitioned such that

then we can write

and

from which the reflection coefficient and transmission coefficient can be found.

2.2.

Parallel-Plate Case The orientation of the parallel plates with respect to the right-handed

coordinate system is shown in Figure 2.2.

Propagation is taken to be in It is sufficient that

the z direction with an incident TEM wave assumed.

only TM modes be used in the calculations since the TH modes satisfy the

F i g u r e 2.2

Relationship between plates and c o o r d i n a t e system.

Figure 2 . 3
Parallel plate h e i g h t definitions.

boundary condition.

Taking both positive- and negative-going

waves into

account, the solution to Maxwell's equations for the TM case is given below (see [9] for example)

where

Using

the relationships above,

(2.5)

and

t h e definitions

shown in

Figure 2.3, we can write

where

2.3.

C o a x i a l - l i n e Case

Like the parallel-plate

E c a s e , a T M wave w i l l be assumed f o r t h e i n c i Again, T41 nodes are s u f f i c i e n t t o

dent f i e l d hitting the discontinuity. s p g c i f y t h e form of t h e h i g h e r - o r d e r

modes.

L e t "b" radius.

d e n o t e t h e o u t e r c o n d u c t o r r a d i u s and "a" d e n o t e t h e i n n e r l i n e w i t h c o n s t a n t c r o s s s e c t i o n , we c a n

Then f o r a s e c t i o n of

Il w r i t e t h e ' l f i e l d e x p r e s s i o n s a s (see [ l o ] f o r d e r i v a t i o n , n o t a t i o n given

below s i m i l a r t o [ Z ] )

where

is the nth root of

J (x) and
i

N (x) are the ith-order Bessel functions of the first and second

kind, respectively. The elements for T and Th will be found for two cases: (a) a step

change in radius in the inner conductor, and ( b ) a change in radius in the outer conductor (see Figure 2 4 . .) For either case, in applying ( 5 ) , the

following integral identities are used:

Case A:

Step change in radius of inner conductor assuming a

>

1'

Figure 2.4
Coaxial l i n e d i s c o n t i n u i t i e s : change i n i n n e r r a d i u s , ( b ) change i n o u t e r r a d i u s .

(a)

where

Case

B:

S t e p change i n r a d i u s of outer c o n d u c t o r

where

2.4.

Validation for Parallel-Plate Case

A F O R T W subroutine was written to implement the discontinuity analysis

for the parallel plate that will determine the reflection coefficient and transmission coefficient for any discontinuities at any frequency.

In Section 2.1 it was mentioned that an assumption was that only a finite
number of modes are needed to adequately specify the fields. discontinuity with h
=

Using one

0.4 X and h

0.2 A , it was found that good results

could be obtained with as few as three modes, as shown in Figure 2.5.

In order to further test the validity of the technique outlined in this

report, a comparison was made with the technique given in [I].

A program

was written to find the equivalent capacitance at any frequency for one discontinuity as shown in [ l , Figure 11 using the method outlined in [ l ] . The test was made for the case h1
=

0.4 X and h2

0.19 1 .

Using nine modes and

=

50 summations in

the series expansion, it was found that Cd '

3.8190 p~/m.

To compare results, it was necessary to find the reflection coefficient knowing C. This can be obtained by finding the reflection coefficient for

a coaxial line with a lumped capacitor given by

(see [ I , Equation (I)] ) and letting r approach infinity, giving

Figure 2.5 Reflection coefficient as a function of the number of modes used in calculations.

where

and

Using C :

3.8190 pF/m g i v e s

'I

0.4709 h - 1 5 4 . 7 8 0

Using t h e t e c h n i q u e g i v e n i n t h i s c h a p t e r , i t was found t h a t

I '
which i s i n good a g r e e m e n t .

0.4685 L-154.93'

T h i s comparison v a l i d a t e s t h e a l t e r n a t i v e way

of f i n d i n g t h e e q u i v a l e n t c a p a c i t a n c e r a t h e r t h a n using t h e method g i v e n i n [ 1 L which i n v o l v e s s l o w l y c o n v e r g i n g s e r i e s .

To v e r i f y p r o p e r o p e r a t i o n of t h e s u b r o u t i n e u s i n g more t h a n one d i s c o n t i n u i t y , a n o t h e r comparison w i t h t h e methods of

[ l ] was made.

The c o n f i g -

u r a t i o n and p a r a m e t e r s used a r e shown i n F i g u r e 2.6.

Using t h e e q u i v a l e n t

c a p a c i t a n c e program, i t was found t h a t t h e e q u i v a l e n t c a p a c i t a n c e f o r t h e d i s c o n t i n u i t y on t h e l e f t i s

and f o r t h e r i g h t d i s c o n t i n u i t y

Matrix Technique

Equivalent Capacitance Technique

r
LENGTH OF TAPER SECTION ( D / X )
F i g u r e 2.6

Comparison between matrix technique and capacitor technique in determining reflection coefficient as a function of mid-section length.

We would expect that as the spacing between discontinuities increases, the two solutions will converge. This is because the evanescent fields

created at one discontinuity will rapidly decay before reaching the next discontinuity. The plot shown in Figure 2.6 shows this is indeed the case. This plot also shows that the error in

1 I'1

obtained by neglecting the field

interactions between the two discontinuities approaches 20% for very small spacing between discontinuities.

2.5.

Determining the Number of Modes to Use When implementing this technique on a computer, care must be taken in

picking the number of modes to use in the calculations.

As can be seen by

examining the line matrix L, the higher-order modes will decay very rapidly between discontinuities. Modes of high enough order will be, numerically

speaking, limited to the region around a discontinuity. To ask the computer

to handle the coupling of these higher-order modes can be quite a computa-

tional burden.

It will be necessary to experiment with a different number

of modes and observe the behavior of the scattering parameters and the condition of the matrices used in the calculations. Of course, if the spacings
are far enough apart, then each discontinuity can be treated in isolation.

CHAPTER 3
SOME APPLICATIONS OF MULTIPLE DISCONTIXUITY ANALYSIS 3.0. Introduction Although there are various applications for multiple discontinuity analysis, this thesis will consider two applications that can be of practical importance: the quarter-wavelength transformer (QWT) and reflection coeffi-

cient optimization using discontinuity shaping. The examples that follow involve the interconnection between two coaxial lines: one line, connected to the TEM source, having a characteristic

impedance of 125 Q, and the other line having a characteristic impedance of 50 0 . (This impedance range is about as wide as is possible using commonly

available coaxial cables.)

In addition, the frequency of operation for the examples is such that

f/f

max

1/2, where f

max

is the highest frequency that can be used before The value of f max depends on the

an additional propagating mode can occur. smallest value of a / b .

In this case, that condition occurs for a/b = 0.125.

The condition for only TEM mode propagation can then be expressed as

where h

b-a.

This condition can be found by solving the equation

(The r e a s o n f o r e x p r e s s i n g t h i s c o n d i t i o n i n t e r m s of h i s f o r c o n v e n i e n c e i n comparing t h e p a r a l l e l p l a t e and c o a x i a l l i n e . ) expressed a s h / = 1/4. ~ Therefore,

/ ,ax c a n be
max

F i n a l l y , a bandwidth e q u a l t o 10% of f / f

i s used.
the

The f r e q u e n c y r e s p o n s e c o n d i t i o n number of

c u r v e s i n t h i s c h a p t e r i n c l u d e a p l o t of
t

t h e m a t r i x used t o f i n d E

i n (7a).

For t h e m a t r i x i s true, then Although a l l they a r e

r o u t i n e s used h e r e , i f t h e l o g i c a l e x p r e s s i o n l.+CONDNIM.EQ.l t h e s y s t e m of e q u a t i o n s may be s i n g u l a r t o working p r e c i s i o n . of t h e examples i n t h i s c h a p t e r have " s a f e "

c o n d i t i o n numbers,

i n c l u d e d i n t h e p l o t s t o e n f o r c e a h a b i t of a s s o c i a t i n g a c o n d i t i o n number with the r e s u l t s .

3.1.

E a u i v a l e n t L e n e t h of a O T W

R e c a l l t h a t t o match two l i n e s w i t h d i f f e r e n t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c impedances using t h e Q T method, W a s e c t i o n a quarter-wavelength l o n g and h a v i n g a

c h a r a c t e r i s t i c impedance e q u a l t o t h e g e o m e t r i c mean of t h e two c h a r a c t e r i s t i c impedances (=

r t ) be must Oi O
take

i n s e r t e d between t h e two l i n e s . modes

This

s i m p l e method d o e s n o t

t h e higher-order

c r e a t e d by t h e s t e p

d i s c o n t i n u i t y i n t o account.

The c a p a c i t i v e e f f e c t s c r e a t e d a t t h e two d i s -

I c o n t i n u i t i e s p e r t u r b t h e ' = 0 p o i n t s l i g h t l y from t h e q u a r t e r - w a v e l e n g t h
p o i n t a s p r e d i c t e d u s i n g t h e QWT method. called the equivalent length. The l e n g t h f o r which

= 0

is

F i g u r e 3.1 i l l u s t r a t e s t h i s s h i f t by showing mode a n a l y s i s and

a f r e q u e n c y r e s p o n s e comparison between t h e h i g h e r - o r d e r

t h e s i n g l e TE11 mode a n a l y s i s .

T h i s s h i f t i n l e n g t h may have s i g n i f i c a n t

e f f e c t s f o r systems with t i g h t t o l e r a n c e s .

26

C O R X I R L CRSE-

EXTRR MODES V S O N L Y TEM

FIINC/B=

. 1250
(DISC.
F i g u r e 3.1

NUMBER O F MOCES =

LENGTH) /HINC=

1. 0000

Frequency r e s p o n s e of a QWT t a k i n g h i g h e r - o r d e r nodes i n t o a c c o u n t ( s o l i d l i n e ) compared t o c o n s i d e r i n g o n l y TEM mode ( d a s h e d l i n e ) , (The c o n d i t i o n number i s g i v e n by the d o t t e d l i n e . )

A computer program was w r i t t e n t o f i n d t h e e q u i v a l e n t l e n g t h of a QWT. I n o r d e r t o f i n d t h e e q u i v a l e n t l e n g t h , i t is n e c e s s a r y t o f i n d t h e ' = 0 I point. There a r e s e v e r a l approaches t o d o i n g t h i s n u m e r i c a l l y . One way

would be t o l o o k a t t h e b e h a v i o r of

II'l = 0.

However,

1 I'l

a s a f u n c t i o n of

l e n g t h can have a f a i r l y s h a r p d i s c o n t i n u i t y n e a r t h e r e g i o n I' = 0 ( r e c a l l t h a t i f z i s complex, t h e n p o i n t can be cumbersome. o f I could be observed. '

121

i s not a n a l y t i c ) .

To n u m e r i c a l l y f i n d t h i s

A l t e r n a t i v e l y , t h e r e a l and imaginary components Experimenting w i t h v a r i o u s c o n f i g u r a t i o n s , i t w a s

found t h a t ~ e ( r ) had a p a r a b o l i c form n e a r t h e z e r o g i v i n g two z e r o c r o s s ings. A check would have t o be made a s t o which z e r o c o r r e s p o n d s t o I' = 0.

I n a d d i t i o n , f i n d i n g t h e z z r o s f o r the p a r a b o l i c form can r e q u i r e c o n s i d e r a b l e computational e f f o r t . near t h e zero point. However, I m ( r ) was found t o be f a i r l y l i n e a r

T h i s means o n l y one z e r o needs t o be t e s t e d and t h i s

z e r o can e a s i l y be approximated u s i n g i n t e r p o l a t i o n .

A s a n example of f i n d i n g t h e e q u i v a l e n t l e n g t h , t h e c a s e Z

oi

= 125

Q and

Zot

50 Q w i l l be c o n s i d e r e d .

Using t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p

g i v e s a / b = 0.125 i h a v i n g a / b = 0.268.

and a t / b

0.435 w i t h t h e quarter-wavelength

section

F i g u r e 3.2 shows a p l o t of the e f f e c t i v e l e n g t h of

t h e QWT s e c t i o n a s a f u n c t i o n of t h e r a t i o of a c t u a l l e n g t h
A s can be s e e n , t h e s h o r t e r t h e a c t u a l l e n g t h , t h e s h o r t e r t h e e q u i v a l e n t

length is.

That t h i s i s s o i s s u g g e s t e d from F i g u r e 2.6 which shows t h a t

f o r s m a l l l e n g t h s t h e o v e r a l l c a p a c i t i v e e f f e c t i s g r e a t e r t h a n t h a t when c o n s i d e r i n g each d i s c o n t i n u i t y i n i s o l a t i o n .

EQUIVRLENT LENGTH OF

Fl QWT

Figure 3.2
E q u i v a l e n t length of a QWT f o r a / b = 0.125,

a /b = 0 . 2 6 8 ,

at/b = 0.435.

3.2.

Reflection Coefficient Optimization The optimization of the reflection coefficient over a given bandwidth

by shaping the discontinuity region will be illustrated using two examples. One example will consider the problem of shaping the discontinuity region
so that the reflection coefficient will be close to the predicted value

using a simple transmission line model (not taking the higher-order modes into account). Another example will consider the minimization of the

reflection coefficient over a given bandwidth.

A computer subroutine is used to evaluate a cost function for a given

discontinuity arrangement.

A commercially available optimization program

is then used to perform the optimization search. Although there are various forms of the cost function that can be used, the one picked for this thesis is the following: Let
'Imin
=-

h hmax

"max

=-

h 'i mn

I'0 = Desired Value of the Reflection Coefficient

n
w

Number of Samples of the Reflection Coefficient Weighting Factor ( 0 < w < 1)

Then the cost function (CF) is given by

where HEAN is the mean of

evaluated at n equal increments of s

between

min and qmax

and STD is the

standard deviation of the sane set of Zata points.

-

The standard deviation

is included for cases where the frequency dependence of the reflection coefficient is to be minimized. For the examples below, n
S

3 and w

1.

For the first example, a coaxial-line system with one line having a
characteristic impedance of 125 Q is connected to a line with a characteristic impedance of 50 Q. It is desired that the connection produce a

reflection coefficient close to the value obtained by not accounting for the higher-order modes (= -0.428). The total discontinuity region length

is 10% of the wavelength at the center frequency. Some insight into this problem can be gained by examining two extreme cases. Suppose the two lines are simply connected with no additional dis-

continuities.

A frequency plot for this case is shown in Figure 3.3.

As

can be seen, the magnitude of the reflection coefficient is always greater than the desired value. Now suppose that a number of discontinuities are
/

arranged to "smoothly" connect the two lines, as shown in Figure 3.4.

Then,

as can be seen from the corresponding frequency plot, the magnitude of the reflection coefficient is smaller in the frequency range of interest (0.2375 <

hi/^

< 0.2675).

Thus we might conclude that there is some inter-

mediate shaping that gives a reflection coefficient very close to the desired value over the bandwidth.

CORXIFIL L I N E DISCONTINUITIES

NUMBER O F MODES =

(DISC. LENGTH) /HINC=

Figure 3.3

. 4000

Frequency r e s p o n s e of a 125 fi l i n e c o n n e c t e d t o a 50 fi l i n e u s i n g o n l y one d i s c o n t i n u i t y ( s o l i d l i n e ) . The d e s i r e d r e f l e c t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t is g i v e n by t h e d a s h e d l i n e . (The d o t t e d l i n e i s the c o n d i t i o n number.)

CORXIRL LINE

DISCONTINUITIES

RINC/B=

. 1250
=

NUMBER O F MODES

(DISC.

LENGTH) / H I N C =

. 4000

Figure 3.4
Frequency response of a 125 il l i n e c o n n e c t e d t o a 50 f l i n e l using a l a r g e number of discontinuities ( s o l i d l i n e ) . The d e s i r e d r e f l e c t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t i s g i v e n by t h e dashed l i n e . (The d o t t e d l i n e i s t h e c o n d i t i o n number.)

The optimization was perforned for three discontinuities.

As can be

seen from the coaxial-line cross section in Figure 3.5, the optimization search found best results by eliminating one discontinuity. The resultant

shape produces a reflection coefficient that is close to the desired value. For the optimal configuration, the cost function is 4.5E-7. For comparison,

a plot for the single discontinuity case over the bandwidth of interest is
shown in Figure 3.6. As a final example, matching of the two lines is investigated. In

order to compare the QWT method, the discontinuity region length is set at
a quarter wavelength at the center frequency.

As before, three discon-

tinuities are used.

The optimization result gives a discontinuity shaping

and frequency response as shown in Figure 3.7.

A comparison with Figure 3.1

For the
=

shows results that are similar with results for the QWT method. first discontinuity section, al/b = 0.260.
0.278.

For the second section, a2/b

q

This is in comparison with the QWT formula which gives a /b = 0.268.

The cost function for this example is 0.00095.

CORXIRL LINE DISCONTINUITIES

AINC/B=

. 1250
5

NUMBER O F MODES =

(DISC. LENGTH1 / H I N C =
F i g u r e 3.5

. $000

Frequency r e s p o n s e o v e r bandwidth a f t e r o p t i m i z a t i o n ( s o l i d l i n e ) . The d a s h e d l i n e i s t h e d e s i r e d r e f l e c t i o n coefficient. (The d o t t e d l i n e i s t h e c o n d i t i o n number .)

CORXIRL LINE DISCONTINUITIES

RINC/B=

. 1250
5
Figure 3.6

NUMBER O F MOCES =

[DISC. LENGTH) /HINC=

. 4000

F r e q u e n c y response f o r s i n g l e d i s c o n t i n u i t y o v e r b a n d w i d t h of i n t e r e s t ( s o l i d l i n e ) . The d a s h e d l i n e i s the d e s i r e d reflection coefficient. ( D o t t e d l i n e i s c o n d i t i o n number.)

CORXIRL LINE DISCONTINUITIES

QINC/B=

. ISSO
(DISC. LENGTH) /HINC=
Figure 3.7 Frequency response o v e r bandwidth for matching network a f t e r optimization (solid line). (The dotted line is the condition number.)

NUMBER O F MODES =

1. 0000

CWTER 4

CONCLUSION

Geometrical step discontinuities force the excitation of higher-order modes in transmission lines and guides. This thesis presents a technique

to take the higher-order modes into account during analysis and synthesis. Formulations for the parallel-plate and coaxial-line systems are included. Although the technique presented here can handle any number of discontinuities, care must be taken when determining the number of modes used in the calculations, particularly for systems with large distances between discontinuities.
I

Applications using the coaxial line demonstrate that taking the higherorder modes into account can give significantly different results from those obtained considering only the TEM mode.

REFERENCES

J. R. Whinnery and H. W. Jamieson, "Equivalent circuits for discontinuities in transmissiori lines," Proc. IEEE, vol. 3 2 , p. 98, February 1944.

J. R. Whinnery, H. W. Jamieson, and T. E. Robbins, "Coaxial-line discontinuities," Proc. IEEE, vol. 32, p 695, November 1944. .

F. A. Hinchey and Sheila Prasad, "Analysis of a double discontinuity

in a coaxial line," Radio Sci., vol. 1, no. 3, p. 397, March 1965. S. B. Cohn, "Optimum design of stepped transmission-line transformers," IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., p. 16, April 1955.

P. I. Somlo, "The computation of coaxial line step capacitances," IEEE

Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., vol. MTT-15, no. 1 , p. 48, January 1967.

R. E. Collin, Foundations for Microwave Engineering.

McGraw-Bill, p. 1980, 1966.

New York, NY:

R. Safavi Naini and R. H. MacPhie, "On solving waveguide scattering problems by the conservation of complex power technique," IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., vol. MTT-29, pp. 337-343, April 1981.

P. E. Moller and R. H. MacPhie, "On the graphical representation of

electric field lines in waveguides," IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory
=Tech

"

vol. MTT-33, pp. 187-192, Narch 1985.

[9] R. E. Collin, Field Theory of Guided Waves.

p . 1 7 4 , 1960.

N w York, NY: McGraw-Hill, e

[lo]

R. A. Waldron, Theory o f Guided Electromagnetic Waves.

London: Van

Nostrand Reinhold Company, p. 245, 1969.