This is a work in progress.
It is intended to be a complementary article for Telegrapher's equations .
The telegrapher's equations are a set of two coupled, linear equations that predict the voltage and current distributions on a linear electrical transmission line . The equations are important because they allow transmission lines to be analyzed using circuit theory .[ 1] : 381–392 The equations and their solutions are applicable from 0 Hz to frequencies at which the transmission line structure can support higher order waveguide modes . The equations can be expressed in both the time domain and the frequency domain . In the time domain approach the dynamical variables are functions of time and distance. The resulting time domain equations are partial differential equations of both time and distance. In the frequency domain approach the dynamical variables are functions of frequency ,
ω
{\displaystyle \omega }
, or complex frequency ,
s
{\displaystyle s}
, and distance
x
{\displaystyle x}
. The frequency domain variables can be taken as the Laplace transform or Fourier transform of the time domain variables or they can be taken to be phasors . The resulting frequency domain equations are ordinary differential equations of distance. An advantage of the frequency domain approach is that differential operators in the time domain become algebraic operations in frequency domain.
The Telegrapher's Equations are developed in similar forms in the following references:
Kraus,[ 2] : 380–419
Hayt,[ 1] : 381–392
Marshall,[ 3] : 359–378
Sadiku,[ 4] : 497–505
Harrington,[ 5] : 61–65
Karakash,[ 6] : 5–14
Metzger.[ 7] : 1–10
Coaxial transmission line wih one source and one load
Johnson gives the following solution,[ 8] : 739–741
V
L
V
S
=
[
(
H
−
1
+
H
2
)
(
1
+
Z
S
Z
L
)
+
(
H
−
1
−
H
2
)
(
Z
S
Z
C
+
Z
C
Z
L
)
]
−
1
=
Z
L
Z
C
Z
C
(
Z
L
+
Z
S
)
cosh
γ
x
+
(
Z
L
Z
S
+
Z
C
2
)
sinh
γ
x
{\displaystyle {\frac {\mathbf {V} _{L}}{\mathbf {V} _{S}}}={[({\frac {\mathbf {H} ^{-1}+\mathbf {H} }{2}})(1+{\frac {\mathbf {Z} _{S}}{\mathbf {Z} _{L}}})+({\frac {\mathbf {H} ^{-1}-\mathbf {H} }{2}})({\frac {\mathbf {Z} _{S}}{\mathbf {\mathbf {Z} } _{C}}}+{\frac {\mathbf {Z} _{C}}{\mathbf {Z} _{L}}})]}^{-1}={\frac {\mathbf {Z} _{L}\mathbf {Z} _{C}}{\mathbf {Z} _{C}(\mathbf {Z} _{L}+\mathbf {Z} _{S})\cosh {{\boldsymbol {\gamma }}x}+({\mathbf {Z} _{L}\mathbf {Z} _{S}}+{\mathbf {Z} _{C}}^{2})\sinh {{\boldsymbol {\gamma }}x}}}}
where
H
=
e
−
γ
x
,
x
=
{\displaystyle \mathbf {H} =e^{-{\boldsymbol {\gamma }}x},\ x=}
length of the transmission line.
In the special case of
Z
L
=
Z
S
=
Z
C
{\displaystyle \mathbf {Z} _{L}=\mathbf {Z} _{S}=\mathbf {Z} _{C}}
the solution reduces to
V
L
V
S
=
1
2
e
−
γ
x
{\displaystyle {\frac {\mathbf {V} _{L}}{\mathbf {V} _{S}}}={\frac {1}{2}}e^{-{\boldsymbol {\gamma }}x}}
γ
=
α
+
j
β
=
(
R
+
s
L
)
(
G
+
s
C
)
{\displaystyle \gamma =\alpha +j\beta ={\sqrt {(R+sL)(G+sC)}}}
.[ 1] : 385
α
{\displaystyle \alpha }
is called the attenuation constant and
β
{\displaystyle \beta }
is called the phase constant .
Z
c
=
(
R
+
s
L
)
(
G
+
s
C
)
{\displaystyle Z_{c}={\sqrt {\frac {(R+sL)}{(G+sC)}}}}
.[ 1] : 385 = the characteristic impedance .
The formulas of characteristic impedance and propagation constant can be reformulated into terms of simple parameter ratios by factoring.
Z
c
=
(
R
ω
+
j
ω
L
ω
)
(
G
ω
+
j
ω
C
ω
)
=
L
ω
C
ω
(
1
−
j
r
ω
)
(
1
−
j
g
ω
)
{\displaystyle Z_{c}={\sqrt {\frac {(R_{\omega }+j\omega L_{\omega })}{(G_{\omega }+j\omega C_{\omega })}}}={\sqrt {\frac {L_{\omega }}{C_{\omega }}}}{\sqrt {\frac {(1-jr_{\omega })}{(1-jg_{\omega })}}}}
γ
=
α
+
j
β
=
(
R
ω
+
j
ω
L
ω
)
(
G
ω
+
j
ω
C
ω
)
=
j
ω
L
ω
C
ω
(
R
ω
j
ω
L
ω
+
1
)
(
G
ω
j
ω
C
ω
+
1
)
=
j
ω
L
ω
C
ω
(
1
−
j
r
ω
)
(
1
−
j
g
ω
)
{\displaystyle \gamma =\alpha +j\beta ={\sqrt {(R_{\omega }+j\omega L_{\omega })(G_{\omega }+j\omega C_{\omega })}}=j\omega {\sqrt {L_{\omega }C_{\omega }}}{\sqrt {({\frac {R_{\omega }}{j\omega L_{\omega }}}+1)({\frac {G_{\omega }}{j\omega C_{\omega }}}+1)}}=j\omega {\sqrt {L_{\omega }C_{\omega }}}{\sqrt {(1-jr_{\omega })(1-jg_{\omega })}}}
.
where
r
ω
=
R
ω
ω
L
ω
,
g
ω
=
G
ω
ω
C
ω
{\displaystyle r_{\omega }={\frac {R_{\omega }}{\omega L_{\omega }}},\,g_{\omega }={\frac {G_{\omega }}{\omega C_{\omega }}}\ }
Note,
g
ω
{\displaystyle g_{\omega }}
is also called dielectric loss tangent .
Where
α
{\displaystyle \alpha }
is called the attenuation constant and
β
{\displaystyle \beta }
is called the phase constant .
In conventional transmission lines,
C
ω
{\displaystyle C_{\omega }}
and
L
ω
{\displaystyle L_{\omega }}
are relatively constant compared to
r
ω
{\displaystyle r_{\omega }}
and
g
ω
{\displaystyle g_{\omega }}
. Behavior of a transmission line over many orders of frequency is mainly determined by
r
ω
{\displaystyle r_{\omega }}
and
g
ω
{\displaystyle g_{\omega }}
, each of which can be characterized as either being much less than unity, about equal to unity, much greater than unity, or infinite (at 0 Hz). Including 0 Hz, there are ten possible frequency regimes although in practice only six of them occur.
Critical frequencies [ edit ]
Critical frequencies
Name
Definition
Notes
ω
1
{\displaystyle \omega _{1}}
g
ω
=
10
{\displaystyle g_{\omega }=10}
end of the RG regime
ω
2
{\displaystyle \omega _{2}}
g
ω
=
1
{\displaystyle g_{\omega }=1}
middle of the RGC regime,
τ
=
1
ω
2
{\displaystyle \tau ={\tfrac {1}{\omega _{2}}}}
is also called the dielectric relaxation time constant]]
ω
3
{\displaystyle \omega _{3}}
g
ω
=
0.1
{\displaystyle g_{\omega }=0.1}
beginning of the RC regime
ω
4
{\displaystyle \omega _{4}}
r
ω
=
10
{\displaystyle r_{\omega }=10}
end of the RC regime
ω
5
{\displaystyle \omega _{5}}
r
ω
=
1
{\displaystyle r_{\omega }=1}
middle of the RLC regime
ω
6
{\displaystyle \omega _{6}}
r
ω
=
0.1
{\displaystyle r_{\omega }=0.1}
beginning of the LC regime
ω
θ
{\displaystyle \omega _{\theta }}
r
ω
=
g
ω
{\displaystyle r_{\omega }=g_{\omega }}
beginning of the dielectric loss dominated regime[ 8] : 200
ω
δ
{\displaystyle \omega _{\delta }}
Example
the frequency above which skin effect is significant[ 8] : 185
ω
c
{\displaystyle \omega _{\mathrm {c} }}
Example
cutoff frequency of the lowest waveguide mode[ 8] : 217
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Typical relationships [ edit ]
always true
ω
1
<
ω
2
<
ω
3
{\displaystyle \omega _{1}<\omega _{2}<\omega _{3}}
,
ω
4
<
ω
5
<
ω
6
{\displaystyle \omega _{4}<\omega _{5}<\omega _{6}}
usually true
ω
1
<
ω
2
<
ω
3
<
ω
4
<
ω
5
<
ω
6
<
ω
θ
{\displaystyle \omega _{1}<\omega _{2}<\omega _{3}<\omega _{4}<\omega _{5}<\omega _{6}<\omega _{\theta }}
ω
1
<
ω
2
<
ω
3
<
ω
4
<
ω
5
<
ω
6
<
ω
c
{\displaystyle \omega _{1}<\omega _{2}<\omega _{3}<\omega _{4}<\omega _{5}<\omega _{6}<\omega _{\mathrm {c} }}
ω
1
<
ω
2
<
ω
3
<
ω
δ
<
ω
θ
{\displaystyle \omega _{1}<\omega _{2}<\omega _{3}<\omega _{\delta }<\omega _{\theta }}
ω
1
<
ω
2
<
ω
3
<
ω
δ
<
ω
c
{\displaystyle \omega _{1}<\omega _{2}<\omega _{3}<\omega _{\delta }<\omega _{\mathrm {c} }}
usually true with exceptions
ω
θ
<
ω
c
{\displaystyle \omega _{\theta }<\omega _{\mathrm {c} }}
There are cases where
ω
θ
>
ω
c
{\displaystyle \omega _{\theta }>\omega _{\mathrm {c} }}
When the dielectric is very low loss, such as vacuum or dry nitrogen, then
ω
θ
{\displaystyle \omega _{\theta }}
becomes very large (or even infinite in the case of ideal vacuum).
When the separtion between conductors is large, then
ω
c
{\displaystyle \omega _{\mathrm {c} }}
becomes small, decreasing inversely with the separation.
Regimes of the telegrapher's equations
Description
Dominant terms
lower frequency
upper frequency
γ
{\displaystyle \gamma }
Z
c
{\displaystyle Z_{c}}
DC
RG
0
0
Example
Example
Near DC
RG
0
+
{\displaystyle {\text{0}}^{\text{+}}}
ω
1
{\displaystyle \omega _{1}}
Example
Example
Very low frequency
RGC
ω
1
{\displaystyle \omega _{1}}
ω
3
{\displaystyle \omega _{3}}
Example
Example
Low frequency, voice frequency
RC
ω
3
{\displaystyle \omega _{3}}
ω
4
{\displaystyle \omega _{4}}
Example
Example
Intermediate frequency
RLC
ω
4
{\displaystyle \omega _{4}}
ω
6
{\displaystyle \omega _{6}}
Example
Example
High frequency
LC
ω
6
{\displaystyle \omega _{6}}
∞
{\displaystyle \infty }
Example
Example
Regimes of transmission lines [ edit ]
Regimes of transmission lines[ 8] : 121–236
Description
Dominant terms
lower frequency
upper frequency
γ
{\displaystyle \gamma }
Z
c
{\displaystyle Z_{c}}
Notes
Lumped (Pi model)
-
0
determined by
l
2
(
α
ω
2
+
β
ω
2
)
<
0.0625
{\displaystyle l^{2}(\alpha _{\omega }^{2}+\beta _{\omega }^{2})<0.0625}
Example
Example
less than 14.3° phase shift and .03 dB loss
RC
RC, RGC, RG
0
ω
r
=
1
{\displaystyle \omega _{r=1}}
Example
Example
LC, Constant loss
LC
ω
r
=
1
{\displaystyle \omega _{r=1}}
ω
δ
{\displaystyle \omega _{\delta }}
Example
Example
If
ω
δ
<
ω
r
=
1
{\displaystyle \omega _{\delta }<\omega _{r=1}}
then this regime does not exist
Skin effect
LC
ω
δ
{\displaystyle \omega _{\delta }}
ω
θ
{\displaystyle \omega _{\theta }}
Example
Example
Dielectric loss
LC
ω
θ
{\displaystyle \omega _{\theta }}
ω
c
{\displaystyle \omega _{\mathrm {c} }}
Example
Example
If
ω
c
<
ω
θ
{\displaystyle \omega _{c}<\omega _{\theta }}
then this regime does not exist
Waveguide dispersion
LC
ω
c
{\displaystyle \omega _{\mathrm {c} }}
∞
{\displaystyle \infty }
Example
Example
Typical Good Transmission Line Parameter Ratioes
Typical Good Transmission Line Velocity
Typical Good Transmission Line Characteristic Impedance
Typical Good Transmission Line Loss
Typical Good Transmission Line Characteristic Impedance Phase
Lengths of RG58 transmission lines at one fifth wavelength
Newfoundland-Azores 1928 Submarine Telegraph Cable Estimated Velocity vs Frequency
^ a b c d Hayt, William H. (1989), Engineering Electromagnetics (5th ed.), McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0070274061
^ Kraus, John D. (1984), Electromagnetics (3rd ed.), McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0-07-035423-5
^ Marshall, Stanley V.; Skitek, Gabriel G. (1987), Electromagnetic Concepts and Applications (2nd ed.), Prentice-Hall, ISBN 0-13-249004-8
^ Sadiku, Matthew N.O. (1989), Elements of Electromagnetics (1st ed.), Saunders College Publishing, ISBN 0-03-013484-6
^ Harrington, Roger F. (1961), Time-Harmonic Electromagnetic Fields (1st ed.), McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0-07-026745-6
^ Karakash, John J. (1950), Transmission lines and Filter Networks (1st ed.), Macmillan
^ Metzger, Georges; Vabre, Jean-Paul (1969), Transmission Lines with Pulse Excitation (1st ed.), Academic Press, LCCN 69-18342
^ a b c d e Johnson, Howard; Graham, Martin (2003), High Speed Signal Propagation (1st ed.), Prentice-Hall, ISBN 0-13-084408-X