A new technique for the analysis of the dispersion characteristics of planar waveguides and its application to microstrips with tuning septums

Abstract

An efficient method for calculating the dispersion characteristics of planar waveguide structures is presented, of which the principle is known as the ‘method of lines’ in mathematical literature. The wave equation is discretized in only one direction, and the resulting differential‐difference equation can be solved analytically. As an example of application the phase constant and the characteristic impedance of microstrips with tuning septums are calculated.